Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – IPL 2021
6 min read
Introduction
Chennai Super Kings had a relatively quiet and predictable auction in which they looked to fill their ‘perceived’ gaps in the all-rounder department and add a batsman or two. I say ‘perceived’ because personally, I don’t feel they needed any more all-rounders than the ones they had, certainly not at the eventual price tag. Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran along with any one between Mitchell Santner and Dwayne Bravo is equally sufficient and capable, if not more, than with K Growtham and Moeen Ali. The overall balance looks mediocre and ‘rustiness’ could go a long way in determining the fate of the team.
Suggestive Playing XI by Mihir Vohra
Mihir’s SWOT Analysis
strengths
- If anything, CSK have a flexible roster, which also has some depth to it, which should be an advantage usually, but not so much this season where teams play at just 4 venues.
- One good that has come with the over-stocking of all-rounders is that playing many of them could help in circumventing the lack of apparent firepower in the batting department.
weaknesses
- There is a huge weakness in their batting lineup in that it lacks a certain firepower one would like to see in a potentially championship winning team. Having plenty of all-rounders is one thing, but remember, bulk of the scoring , including power-hitting, has to be done by the specialist batsmen. If Mumbai Indians had Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya and Kieron Pollard, bulk of their scoring was done by Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kisan and Quinton de Kock. All-rounders are more of an insurance.
- At the risk of repeating myself and sounding cliched, an ‘old’ team with tired legs and lack of match time is always a weakness.
- I always see it as a weakness in a team which doesn’t have room or scope for at least 3-4 youngsters in their playing XI on a regular basis.
opportunities
- With more weaknesses come more opportunities. A a huge opportunity to prove the doubters (including me) that the ‘daddy army’ has only aged like fine wine and that a synergy between something as different as chalk and cheese is possible. Of course, by chalk and cheese, I am referring to CSK’s policy of backing experience unlike most other teams backing young blood and experience equally, if not one more than the other.
- I see it difficult, not impossible though, for M S Dhoni to fit into CSK’s retention “scheme of things” for the mega auction in 2022. Yes, he might continue in yellow and CSK might retain him after all. This gives an opportunity for one last hurrah from MS – a man we have all grown to trust and respect.
- There is an opportunity for the youngsters in the team to shine on the big stage and stake a claim for a future place in CSK. Because let’s face it, even if a playing XI is more or less bound to be composed of tried and tested players, there is always room for change if one can prove skills and form away from the matches.
threats
- If CSK treat this as a transactional season by just waiting for the mega auction in 2022 and not putting much focus on this season, both on and off the field, their campaign will be derailed before it even starts.
- Another threat is of playing too many all-rounders, weakening specialist bowling capabilities.
player from unsold
Alex Hales / Aaron Finch —> Either of these 2 players would have provided a much needed impetus at the top of the order. Pardon me but it is not like Far du Plessis is the player he was, a few years ago – he might still score the occasional half century but will not provide a T20-esque starts more often than not.
player from another team
Jason Roy —> What CSK lack in firepower in the batting department would have been more than made up by the presence of Jason Roy in the yellow camp. While unsold throughout the auction, he was snapped up as a late replacement for Mitchell Marsh by SRH. While Jason Roy is clearly a backup for David Warner and/or Johnny Bairstow at the top of the order at SRH, he would have slotted in directly at CSK according to me.
key player
Sam Curran —> No prizes for me or you for guessing/estimating that this player is going to be the key player for CSK this season. Given his recent form against India in India, Sam Curran doesn’t only provide 4 overs of left-arm seam bowling to MS, he gives MS an option to float him around the batting order depending on the match situation. If MS is looking to be adventurous (like I am, as you would see in my preferred playing XI for CSK), Sam Curran can easily open the innings for CSK and prove to be for CSK what Sunil Narine is (or at least was) to KKR.
prediction
The horizon doesn’t look too bright for CSK but it didn’t either in 2018, yet we know what happened back then. That being said, a 5th or 6th position finish is definitely on the cards and that’s where I think CSK will finish this year.
Roster
Schedule
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Download
Download High Resolution CSK Analytical images here
I will die in peace if I get to see a few “kadak” knocks,like old times, from MSD
How about the winner’s trophy in his hands on 30th of May?!