One weakness of each team for the upcoming IPL season

#2. Chennai Super Kings- Lack of young dynamic openers

Shane Watson is an integral part of the CSK outfit

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been the most consistent team in the history of the IPL. They have qualified for the top 4 in all nine seasons they have played, and they won the coveted trophy on three occasions - in 2010, 2011 and 2018.

The year 2019 was a near-perfect one for CSK until they lost the final to Mumbai Indians by the narrowest margin of one run.

CSK have four options as openers in the upcoming IPL season. Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu and Murali Vijay are the options available for CSK at the top of the order.

Watson and Faf du Plessis will in all likelihood open the batting for CSK in the 2020 IPL season.

After retiring from international cricket, Watson has been participating in T20 leagues around the world and is making his presence felt.

However, 2019 was a mixed year for Watson when he scored 3 half-centuries in the tournament out of which 2 were in the last two games. He struggled in the remainder of the matches. It will be interesting to see if Watson will create the same impact at the top of the order for CSK as he has done in the past.

Faf du Plessis had a consistent 2019 IPL. He has a strike rate of 126.74 in IPL cricket and takes time to get going. He is not a powerful striker like Gayle or Warner. He has not been in the best of touches in 2019 and was not a regular part of the South African T20 sqaud in 2019 season.

Another option for CSK at the top of the order is Ambati Rayudu. He had a prolific 2018 season at the top of the order. But an indifferent 2019 IPL may force the team management to have Rayudu bat in the middle order for the 2020 IPL season.

Murali Vijay has tasted success for CSK in the past as an opener. However. he has played just 3 matches in the last couple of seasons and has been amongst the reserves.

What CSK lack is a young opener who can go after the bowling from the word go and take advantage of the powerplay overs. CSK will be dependent on make shift openers like Faf du Plessis and Rayudu who have tasted success in the past for the team.