Trivia: Chennai Super Kings is the only team who has successfully defended the prestigious IPL trophy. The Kings won their first trophy in the 3rd edition of IPL. They replicated the same in the next season and claimed their second title by beating Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Despite all the setbacks, the yellow army is ready to roar again in the 13th edition of IPL starting from 19th September 2020. They will clash against Mumbai Indians in the inaugural match of the marquee tournament. But many cricket pundits have not given CSK the ‘favourites‘ tag this season, which is due to a lot of questions that is still left to answer:
- Do they have the replacements of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh?
- Will age factor finally affect their performance?
- Can ‘Captain Cool‘ still make his team hold the title?
The answers to the aforementioned questions will be known come 19th September. Till then, we present you with our detailed analysis of Chennai Super Kings.
New Additions
The yellow brigade added certain valuable players to their existing pool. They have always believed in the ideology of retaining their core players, and this year was no different. Here is the list of new payers who would array the yellow jersey this season:
- Piyush Chawla (6.75 Crore)
- Sam Curran (5.5 Crore)
- Josh Hazlewood (2 Crore)
- R. Sai Kishore (20 Lakhs)
Team Analysis
Batting – A Conundrum
The batting lineup of ‘Daddies Army’ is probably their weak link this year. Suresh Raina, no longer available in this edition, had made the case even worse for them. Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, and Faf Du Plessis form a formidable batting lineup. They have loads of experience but are definitely past their prime. Take a look at our decision on how CSK can overcome the Raina sized hole in their squad.
Their beloved Thala, MS Dhoni, would be returning on a cricketing field after a gap of nearly 14 months. The Whistle Podu army would be hoping for his splendid season. As usual, the talismanic skipper would play a colossal role if CSK wants to have a bite of the golden title this year.
Murali Vijay is expected to open the innings for CSK. The right-handed batsman would be looking to grab selectors’ eyeballs with his outstanding performance. The same is the case with Kedar Jadhav, who has been shown the door by selectors recently. He would be eager to step onto the field and set the stage on fire.
Spin Bowling – Probably the Finest
The spin bowling department of CSK is what every captain desires, especially in the spin-friendly pitches of UAE. Harbhajan Singh pulling out of IPL may not be a big blow as they have others to make up. They have the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner. These left-arm spinners would be very effective in the slow and sluggish UAE wickets.
The veterans Piyush Chawla and Imran Tahir are invaluable gems to their franchise and can keep batsmen on their toes. R. Sai Kishore is the new addition to their family, and CSK management has already complimented him a lot. Karn Sharma is another player in their spin factory. The leg spinner has the required ingredients to deliver in UAE tracks.
Pace Bowling – Competent
CSK’s pace bowling department contains highly skilled bowlers. They made some quality acquisitions in the auction. Sam Curran and Josh Hazelwood would be donning yellow jersey this year. Both of them have performed outstandingly recently and could hold the key to the franchisees’ success this year.
