Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – IPL 2019
5 min read
Introduction
CSK not only enter this edition of the IPL as the defending champions but they also come with 24 players from the last edition. No prizes in guessing that such a roster is led by the one and only Mahendra Singh Dhoni. With their only addition at this year’s auction being uncapped batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad, we shouldn’t expect much changes to the playing XI from last year. The playing XI will only be strengthened with the availability of Mitchell Santner and Kedar Jadhav, both of whom were injured last year.
Suggestive Playing XIs
Mihir’s SWOT Analysis
strengths
- CSK boast of an amazing bench strength with efficient backups in place for every player.
- Even if we don’t consider last year’s playing XI, much of CSK’s playing XI forms itself given the current roster.
- Barring M S Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu, and if applicable Faf du Plessis, all remaining first choice players are capable of delivering 4 overs. This gives a luxury to M S Dhoni who is an expert in rotating bowlers, especially spinners.
weaknesses
- On the flip side of having so many bowling options is being spoilt for choice and not always having a settled group of bowlers.
- Another weakness, at the risk of being proved wrong, is the average age of CSK’s roster, which hovers around 30. Although this factor didn’t play any sort of role last year, it will be interesting to see what kind of impact it has this year.
- Assuming this year’s playing XI would be based on last year’s playing XI until Kedar Jadhav’s injury, the batting looks weak with Jadhav to bat as high as the fourth position.
- In a roster of 26, there are only 6 uncapped players with none of them fitting in CSK’s scheme of things. At best, they look like second-choice backups. I say this is a weakness considering IPL’s motto, which has the word “opportunity” in it and CSK’s approach of giving opportunities to experienced international players rather than domestic players. It kind of highlights a weakness not in their team but in their planning and approach towards the IPL.
opportunities
- Last year, M S Dhoni showed that captaincy is like riding a bike; you don’t forget it. At least that’s what it seemed to the viewer looking at Dhoni captaining CSK.
- CSK have a brilliant opportunity to continue leveraging a winning combination for yet another favourable season.
threats
- Many of their players are injury-prone. Kedar Jadhav, Ambati Rayudu, M S himself, Shane Watson, Shardul Thakur, Dwayne Bravo…
- Suresh Raina, one of their batting mainstays, around whom the middle-order revolves lacks the necessary of match practice coming into the IPL. Not considering the games Raina would play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, he would enter IPL having played his last T20 in July 2018, against England.
- CSK has a problem of “too many” which could be a huge threat. The odds of that working in CSK’s favour is 50-50 and would depend on how M S approaches this kind of facility at his disposal and how the players mentally handle it.
key player
Shane Watson –> Shane Watson is having a great batting season in the BBL. At the top of the order in CSK, his responsibility is to provide a blazing start so that Rayudu(or Faf) can settle down or Raina has time to get into his groove. Besides, he has an added responsibility in that Faf isn’t really a like-for-like replacement for Watto in terms of ability to get off to a flying start more often than not. Therefore, Watto’s lack of form/performances could really throw the top-order of CSK off their game.
prediction
I predict another playoff finish especially because of how settled their roster looks. Much of their core players are in form and would come into the IPL with adequate match practice in their kitty.
Samrat’s SWOT Analysis
strengths
- Their core all-round balance compared to any team in the competition.
- Batsmen had delivered for CSK big time in 2018, having chased down totals 9 times successfully out of the 11 times they were set a target. They successfully defended 2 out of the 5 times they have batted first, both being scores of more than 180.
weaknesses
- The team was underestimated last season due to ageing players but proved the critics wrong. However, the age factor might haunt the team this season.
- Inexperienced bowling unit in the likes of Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar.
- Key opening pair has not found any substance yet which competitors may exploit.
opportunities
- The form CSK batsmen have in recent time with M S Dhoni himself and Shane Watson and Kedar Jadhav.
threats
- Good batting pitches, troublesome scenarios for the team.
key player
M S Dhoni –> Being in the game for so long and consistently performing, I think he will promote himself and give himself as much time required. His captaincy being the key value to the team.
prediction
Unfortunately, I don’t think CSK will make it to the playoffs this year, mainly due to their known strengths to the competitors and weak spots which can be exploited.
Roster
