Three-time Indian Super League champions Chennai Super Kings are more hungry than ever to do well in the Indian Premier League after missing out on the playoffs stage in 2020 for the first time in IPL history.
Many experts and fans believe that ‘Captain Cool’ MS Dhoni will be calling a time at his successful cricketing career at the end of the upcoming edition of the cash-rich league. The 39-year old has already taken retirement from international cricket back in 2020 after a trophy-laden career as the skipper of the national team.
For the Thala’s send-off, Chennai has assembled a great squad adding the spin all-rounder duo of Moeen Ali and Krishnappa Gowtham along with experienced Indian batsmen Robin Uthhapa and Cheteshwar Pujara. In addition, Suresh Raina returns to the fold after missing the 2021 edition of the tournament and the 34-year old could prove valuable to the team’s fortune.
Let’s have a look at the 25-men squad of Chennai Super Kings
M.S. Dhoni © (wk), Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, C Hari Nishanth, Cheteshwar Pujara, Robin Uthappa (wk), Narayan Jagadeesan (wk), Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, Krishnappa Gowtham, Mitchell Santner, Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Karn Sharma, R Sai Kishore, K Bhagath Verma, Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, M Harishankar Reddy, Lungi Ngidi
With a lot of all-rounders in the squad, there is no lack of balance in the Super Kings squad but let’s have a look at the players who make it to Parimatch’s predicted playing XI.
Top-order: Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suresh Raina
The pair of former Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis and youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad provides stability at the top of the order for the Super Kings as the fans witnessed towards the business end of the 2020 edition of the IPL. But with Chennai playing most of their matches at the high-scoring grounds of Wankhade Stadium and M Chinnaswamy Stadium, they would like a dasher at the top and Sam Curran could be seen opening the batting for the Chennai-based franchise.
In the last season of IPL, Suresh Raina was direly missed at No.3 with Chennai Super Kings looking a shadow of their former selves. Nicknamed ‘China Thala’ by the fans, Raina is still the second-highest run-getter in the tournament’s history and would be looking to retain his spot in the list with consistent batsmen David Warner and Rohit Sharma breathing down his neck.
Middle-order: Ambati Rayudu/Robin Uthappa, MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali
MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu building a partnership for CSK
Ambati Rayudu would be looking to continue his form from IPL 2020 as he was the second-highest scorer of the team after du Plessis. Robin Uthappa is a player that can be added to the playing XI and the experienced campaigner has the ability to bat anywhere in the ‘Top 4’.
Skipper MS Dhoni at No.5 is a no-brainer as there are few players better than Dhoni at reading the situation of the match and acting accordingly whilst both chasing targets or defending them as a captain on the field.
Moeen Ali has been an expensive addition to the squad but the English all-rounder could prove valuable with his big hits lower down the order and a couple of overs with the ball in hand as well.
Lower middle-order: Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran batting together for CSK in the IPL
The young yet explosive and dependable figure of Sam Curran coming in at No.7 further strengthens a great batting line-up followed by Ravindra Jadeja at No.8.
With Chennai playing the first five matches at Wankhade Stadium, the pace bowling of Curran would come in handy as he can contribute his full quota of overs in almost every match. Jadeja is a proven match-winner with both bat and ball in his hand and the spin bowling all-rounder is also one of the best fielders in the world.
Tail: Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir
The duo of Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar is a great seam bowling pair with both bowlers complementing each other with their different bowling attributes. Chahar has the ability to keep it tight in the powerplay overs and strike the first wicket while Thakur is a proven wicket-taker in the crucial death overs of the innings.
Imran Tahir was barely seen in the last edition of the IPL but with the league returning to Indian pitches, the 42-year old wrist-spinner would be a key figure for the Super Kings whenever called upon. On bouncy tracks, Dwayne Bravo or Lungi Ngidi can come in for Tahir and give Dhoni more options to turn to in the death overs of the opposition innings.