IPL 2020: The best players in each department for Chennai Super Kings

The three-time IPL champions and last year's runners-up Chennai Super Kings (CSK) came into the IPL 2020 auctions with not much to do other than signing some back-up players. Although they needed some quality top-order batsmen, they weren't desperate for them.

CSK signed Josh Hazlewood (₹2 cr), Piyush Chawla (₹6.75 cr), R Sai Kishore (₹20 L), and Sam Curran (₹5.5 cr) in the auctions, which was the lowest number of players any franchise signed on the day.

They have always been a team that knows what they want to do and in all honesty, Stephen Fleming would have been happy with the players they signed because every single one of them has improved the squad.

The MS Dhoni led side is still one of the oldest in the league but if the last two seasons in the IPL have told us anything, it is that experience matters in T20 cricket and even retired cricketers can do well in the world's biggest T20 tournament. Here, we are going to take a look at the best players in each department for CSK and also mention their possible replacements.

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#5 All-rounder - Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja has had an incredible 2019

CSK have a plethora of all-rounders to choose from and this was a tough selection to make. But considering how well Ravindra Jadeja did last season and how good his 2019 was, it has to be the Indian off-spinner who is the best player in the all-rounder department for CSK.

In IPL 2019, Jadeja picked up 15 wickets in 16 games at an economy rate of 6.35. Along with that, batting at number 8, Jadeja played brilliantly as a finisher and scored 106 runs at an average of almost 36, at a strike rate of 120.

Jadeja is also incredible in the field, arguably the best in the world and that makes him very important to CSK. Dwayne Bravo is the only one that even comes close to providing the amount of utility Jadeja does but at this moment, the West Indian all-rounder is declining, while Jadeja is showing no signs of the same.

In terms of possible replacements, CSK have Mitchell Santner who can be a like for like replacement although the New Zealand international is not as good as Jadeja is in the field.

#4 Wicket-Keeper and finisher - MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni will be fresh for IPL 2020

There was no doubt on this one, was there? MS Dhoni is the heartthrob of CSK and one can't even imagine anyone else leading them onto the field. Dhoni hasn't played any cricket in 2019 after the World Cup ended and it's possibly because he wanted a mental break after playing continuous cricket for years.

So, he would be quite fresh for next season and it is a good thing for CSK. Last season, the former Indian skipper scored 416 runs from 15 games at an incredible average of 83 and at a strike rate of 135. Dhoni has been CSK's finisher for years now and there's no doubt that he will play the same role in IPL 2020.

The problem CSK have is that there is no suitable replacement available for Dhoni. The only other wicket-keepers CSK have are N Jagadeesan and Ambati Rayudu, both of whom have quite different styles to Dhoni. So, it's important for CSK that their skipper stays fit throughout the tournament.

#3 Batsman - Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis was great for CSK last year

This was another tough choice to make as none of CSK's batsmen were consistent enough last season. But if one has to select someone, it has to be Faf du Plessis, who was by far CSK's best top-order batsman in IPL 2019.

He scored 396 runs in 12 games at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 124. The South African also had some added responsibility because of the fact that Shane Watson wasn't firing on all cylinders at the start of the tournament and neither was Ambati Rayudu. Hence, if we take that into consideration, du Plessis' numbers command even more respect.

While South Africa didn't have a great 2019, individually, the 35-year-old had a great year and he would be looking forward to the IPL this season as it would be the base for the T20 World Cup this year. As far as back-up options go, CSK don't have many, other than Rayudu, as no one is really a natural opener. So, chances are, the South African skipper will play most of the season unless Dhoni thinks he needs an extra overseas bowler or all-rounder.

#2 Spin Bowler - Imran Tahir

Imran Tahir is a very skilled operator

Again, CSK have a plethora of spinners to choose from but none more experienced and skilled than Imran Tahir. The South African veteran was absolutely incredible for CSK last season as he managed to win the Purple Cap.

He picked up 26 wickets in 17 games, at an economy rate of 6.69 and an amazing strike rate of 15. The 40-year-old is a game-changer for CSK in every sense and he will have support next season from the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla.

In terms of back-up, as stated above, if MS Dhoni thinks he needs an overseas seamer, he can easily drop Tahir and play either Chawla or Karn Sharma in his position. But it has to be said that no one can easily replace someone of Tahir's calibre.

#1 Fast Bowler - Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar was incredible last season

CSK's find of the season last season was their new ball sensation Deepak Chahar, whose exploits in the yellow earned him a national call-up. The 27-year-old has improved his bowling skills massively over the past couple of years as he was previously known as a swing bowler but now, he has added many different variations to his arsenal which make him a capable death bowler.

Last season, Chahar picked up 22 wickets in 17 games at an economy rate of just 7.5. What makes those stats more impressive is the fact that he bowled more at the death last season than he has ever done before.

Chahar is indispensable to this CSK set-up but if he is rested or injured, KM Asif can replace him, while Lungi Ngidi and Josh Hazlewood are the overseas options. Hazlewood is the like for like replacement but for him to be accommodates, Dhoni will have to drop an overseas all-rounder or batsman, something which he could possibly be unwilling to do.

Also see: Top 5 picks of Chennai Super Kings in IPL history