IPL 2020: Ranking the batsmen of all the teams

#7 Chennai Super Kings

Dhoni hasn't been seen in action since the World Cup Semi-Final.

Overseas Options: Shane Watson, and Faf du Plessis

Indian Options: Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(C), Ambati Rayudu, N Jagadeesan, M Vijay, and Ruturaj Gaikwad

A couple of seasons back and CSK would've been on the top of the list. But most of their batsmen have aged and are way past their prime. This list sadly includes skipper MS Dhoni who has been scoring well in every season up till now.

CSK ought to have signed an opener in the auction but they decided not to and chose to splash their cash on Piyush Chawla instead. But both Shane Watson and Faf Du Plessis had poor strike-rates last season, and that was a major reason for their slow starts last season.

The likes of Ambati Rayudu didn't do well last season and their form hasn't improved since then. Rayudu can succeed if he opens the batting again but his comeback in the domestic circuit has been rather middling.

CSK will again rely on MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina to score the runs for them. But both of them haven't played cricket for a long time and it'll be interesting to see how they perform. There are a couple of exciting backup options like Jagadeesan and Ruturaj Gaikwad who are too good to be bench-warmers and should be given chances to play.

Final Verdict: Age and the lack of exciting options up top means that MS Dhoni and Raina will have to do the bulk of the scoring for CSK this season.

#6 Rajasthan Royals

Steve Smith's form will be crucial for RR.

Overseas Options: Jos Buttler, and Steve Smith(C)

Indian Options: Sanju Samson, Robin Uthappa, Manan Vohra, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Anuj Rawat

Despite having a host of overseas options, the RR batting lineup has a lot of holes and is very susceptible to collapses. Barring Buttler, the rest of the options aren't traditional T20 players and haven't adapted well to Indian conditions. Steve Smith does have a decent record in India but his strike-rate is too low for a T20 player.

The Indian options are led by Sanju Samson and the newly signed Robin Uthappa although it's their Mumbai teenager Yashasvi Jaiswal who looks most promising. Samson is sure of a starting berth as he's in scintillating form in the domestic circuit. Uthappa had a rather poor IPL and followed it up with middling performances in the domestic season. Yashasvi should be given some chances as he can combine well with Riyan Parag who bats in the middle-order.

Final Verdict: Most of RR's overseas options have to adapt to Indian conditions and remain unconvincing options on paper. They have do have a couple of exciting youngsters along with Sanju Samson but it'll be tricky to accommodate them in the playing XI.