Three Overseas Stars CSK could drop for IPL 2019

On expected grounds, the Chennai Super Kings inclusion in the 2018 edition of the IPL added a sense of euphoria and intrigue to the tournament. Almost every game that CSK played throughout the season was met with humongous support from the fans all over the country.

And the 'Men in Yellow' did not disappoint either. With individual brilliance and match-winning performance in virtually every game, spearheaded by 'Thala' MS Dhoni, who has led from the front, both with the bat (455 runs in 15 matches) and also with his technical acumen, CSK has stormed into the finals for a record seventh time.

That said, there have been few International stars who did not live up to expectations, and might be left out next season.

Here's my compilation:

#3 Mark Wood

The tall and a hit-the-deck right-handed English fast bowler, Mark Wood, was racked up by the Chennai Super Kings at the 2018 IPL Auctions at the base price of ₹1.50 Crore.

But the English fast bowler featured in just a solitary game (tournament opener vs. MI), in which he conceded 49 runs and went wicketless. Wood sat out for the next nine games that CSK played and eventually cut short his campaign, in a bid to prepare for the English summer.

With CSK having struggled for quality pace options, Wood might face having his spot in jeopardy from the 2019 set-up.

#2 Sam Billings

Billings had an indifferent season

Apart from a match-winning 56 against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, it is safe to say that Sam Billings has had an ordinary year with the bat for the Chennai Super Kings.

Billings, who was racked up at the base price of Rs 1 Crore, has scrapped to a mere 108 runs in 10 matches at a disappointing average of 13.50, and with the likes of Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson forging crucial roles, Billings place might come in jeopardy next season.

#1 Imran Tahir

A major disappointment this season, Imran Tahir

Much was expected from veteran South African leg-spinner, Imran Tahir, when he was racked up by the Chennai Super Kings in the 2018 Auctions.

Tahir, who was bought by CSK, at a base price of Rs 1 Crore, did not have a fruitful 2018 season and accounted for just six wickets in six matches at an average of 31.33 and an economy of 9.09.

With the duo of Ravindra Jadeja (10 wickets in fifteen matches) and Harbhajan Singh (7 wickets) filling in the role of spinners with precision, Tahir has remained out of favour for a major part of the season and can face the axe next year.