IPL 2019, CSK vs RCB: Predicted overseas players for Chennai Super Kings

If there’s one team which remains strong even after going through some bitter years in the recent past, it has to be the Chennai Super Kings. After being suspended for 2 years, they made an amazing comeback last year and went on to win their 3rd IPL trophy.

The MS Dhoni-led team were in full form as a variety of players took the driver's seat at different points in the tournament, and guided the team to victory.

CSK start the IPL 2019 edition against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chennai on March 23. The major strength of the team is that they don’t alter their core unit, which in turn has helped them forge a special bond among themselves - something that we don't see in other teams.

CSK looked a solid unit even before the auction as they backed most of their players while letting go only a few. Consequently, they had the least amount of work during the auctions, which they finished in style as always.

Here, we predict the 4 overseas players who are likely to feature for CSK in the tournament opener against RCB:

#1 Lungi Ngidi

Lungi Ngidi

The 22-year old fast bowler from South Africa Lungi Ngidi was in prime form last year. He picked 11 wickets in the 7 games that he played for CSK at a miserly economy of 6.0. Opposition batsmen found the going really hard against Ngidi in the initial overs, as there was no room for them to score against the pacer.

Ngidi will look to continue his fine form this year as well, especially since he's had an amazing run on the international stage. Ngidi has scalped 34 wickets in the 18 ODI matches that has he played for South Africa, at a decent economy of 5.33. In 7 T20I matches he has featured for South Africa, he has picked 11 wickets with an economy of 6.4.

Ngidi will be an automatic choice to be in the XI as CSK don’t have any other overseas fast bowler. Let's see if he can continue his last year's heroics this year too.

#2 Shane Watson

Shane Watson

Age never matters at Chennai Super Kings as we have seen a lot of players in the past who played a vital role for the team post their retirement.

Shane Watson, who played for RCB and RR in the past, joined CSK last season. He had a terrible time with RCB in the past couple of years yet his fortunes changed as he struck gold with the bat for CSK last year.

Watson scored 550 runs for the team which included 2 match winning centuries. His partnership with Ambati Rayudu was widely lauded as they laid a solid platform at the top for the players to follow.

The 37-year old was also named the man of the series in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League, thus reinforcing that age is just a number.

Watson will also be an automatic selection in the XI and he will be relied on by the team management for giving blistering starts at the top.

#3 Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo

Caribbean players have always been crowd favorites in the IPL, right since 2008. Be it their monstrous hitting with the bat or their sharp acrobatic skills in the field, they have been an important asset for every team.

And while it’s been Andre Russell for KKR and Chris Gayle for RCB in the past and KXIP in the present, it is Dwayne Bravo for CSK.

Bravo joined CSK in 2011 and has remained a vital part of the team ever since. His wicket-taking skills in the death overs and crucial cameos in the middle order have made him the go-to man for his skipper MS Dhoni.

Bravo will look to have another successful season with CSK. With an amazing strike rate of 17.19 with the ball and 128.72 with the bat, Bravo will hold all the aces in the race for the all-rounder's spot in the XI.

#4 David Willey

David Willey

The 29-year old English cricketer David Willey is another exciting talent to watch out for in the Chennai camp. Though he featured in the team last year as well, he got to play only 3 matches wherein he couldn’t prove his ability to the fullest.

Hailing from Northampton, Willey has a strike rate of 131.75 with the bat in 27 T20I matches he has played. He also holds an amazing record with the ball, having scalped 34 wickets in 27 matches at an average and strike rate of 21.65 and 15.85 respectively.

Willey can be the trump card for CSK as he fits in any position and can be used as floater. Though he is not an automatic selection as he has to compete with Mitchell Santner for his place, Willey is likely to be preferred for his all-round skills. He can chip in with 2-3 overs with the ball and play some important cameos, giving him the edge over Santner.