IPL 2020: Chennai Super Kings team profile

The Chennai Super Kings squad that is led by MS Dhoni is definitely one of the most formidable teams in the history of the tournament.

Having lifted three titles, in 2010, 2011 and 2018, and having reached the IPL final five other times, few teams have dominated the all-important IPL Playoffs like the Chennai Super Kings.

The team over the years has not let its core structure be changed much, often relying on some of its experienced players, while the buzz around for most other teams being on ‘bringing in young talent’.

Led by the magnificent MS Dhoni, who perhaps has one of the best records as a captain in this format, the team is built around some of its key all-rounders such as Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo and Kedar Jadhav.

With some recent developments, where Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh have opted out of the tournament due to ‘personal reasons’ one may think that two slots in the playing XI have suddenly become vacant. But there is no doubt that there are many other faces in the squad that the team management will be looking out to bridging that gap.

It is also to be seen how the CSK will overcome the mental challenge of having 12 staff members and two players in Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad test Covid-19 positive after landing in Dubai. One also has to wait and see if they will have all their players available to play when they begin their campaign on September 19 against Mumbai Indians.

But with MS Dhoni having announced his international retirement on August 15 this year, and IPL being the only tournament that the former India skipper is involved in playing, even those who support other franchises in the IPL, will be watching out for a phenomenon performance by the ‘Thala’.

IPL 2020 Auctions

The Chennai Super Kings had retained the core of their players ahead of the player auctions for IPL 2020.

Two key purchases that they went ahead with this year were to pick Piyush Chawla, who had previously been fairly successful at the Kolkata Knight Riders, and to get the highly-talented English all-rounder in Sam Curran.

Piyush Chawla has picked up 150 IPL wickets, and his spin could be a great option for the slow tracks that are often found in the UAE.

Sam Curran, who has done quite well for England in the short duration that he has been a part of their squad in all three formats of the game could be a fantastic all-rounder option.

Here’s a look at the complete CSK squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo, Kedar Jadhav, Murali Vijay, Faf Du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Mitchell Santner, Sam Curran, Josh Hazlewood, Lungi Ngidi, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Imran Tahir, Karn Sharma, Piyush Chawla, R Sai Kishore, Narayan Jagadeesan, KM Asif, Monu Kumar

CSK IPL History:

2008: IPL Runners Up (Lost to Rajasthan Royals)

2009: Qualified for playoffs eventually finishing in third place

2010: IPL Champions

2011: IPL Champions

2012: IPL Runners Up (Lost to Kolkata Knight Riders)

2013: IPL Runners Up (Lost to Mumbai Indians)

2014: Qualified for playoffs eventually finishing in third place

2015: IPL Runners Up (Lost to Mumbai Indians)

2016: Did not play

2017: Did not play

2018: IPL Champions

2019: IPL Runners Up (Lost to Mumbai Indians)

Predictions for IPL 2020

There has hardly been an IPL edition where the CSK did not start as one of the favourites. This year, with MS Dhoni having retired from all forms of international cricket, cricket-lovers across the world are eager to see Dhoni back in action.

However, with no professional cricket since India’s exit from the World Cup 2019 semi-final in July last year, it may take some time for Dhoni to get back into form.

Also with the exit of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh, the team will need some newer players to take some bulk off the shoulders of other experienced players.

CSK COACHING STAFF:

Head coach – Stephen Fleming

Batting coach – Michael Hussey

Bowling coach – Lakshmipathy Balaji