Chennai Super Kings, 4-time IPL winners. IPL 2022 may be their 5th IPL title win. The team is known for its consistency and team combination. MS Dhoni has kept his faith in the experienced players and always took CSK to the playoffs. This season of IPL will likely be no different for CSK. This season, Chennai Super Kings have the most stable core team of all the IPL teams. Will Jadeja fill in for Shardul as a bowler, or will he be used just as a batter?
It was a shocker for all the cricket fans when CSK decided not to retain Suresh Raina, the Chinna Thala. Later in the auction, any teams did not pick Mr. IPL Suresh Raina. A sad moment in the history of IPL. CSK retained Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
These four players will be the core team for CSK in IPL 2022:
| Player | Role | Price | IPL 2021 Performance | T20 Performance in 2021 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder | 16 Cr | 16M, 227 runs + 13W | 21M, 266 runs + 20W |
| MS Dhoni | WK Batsman | 12 Cr | 16M, 114 runs, 16.29 avg, 106.54 SR | 16M, 114 runs, 16.29 avg, 106.54 SR |
| Moeen Ali | All-rounder | 8 Cr | 15M, 357 runs + 6W | 36M, 825 runs + 25W |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Right-hand batsman | 6 Cr | 16M, 635 runs, 45.36 avg, 136.27 SR | 28M, 1023 runs, 39.35 avg, 136.76 SR |
- R Jadeja took Harshal Patel on the storm by hitting him all over the ground with 37-runs in an over. This new batsman-Jadeja is the new pillar of the middle order for CSK. We can see Jadeja batting at number 4 or 5.
- Moeen Ali is the destroyer when he plays in the top order, and he will be batting in top order and provide the left-right hand combination in the batting. CSK always has had one off-spinner in the playing 11 who can bowl in the powerplay, and Moeen will also be a key bowler.
- Ruturaj has shown his class by hitting sixes to world-class bowlers like Bumrah, Rabada, and Nortje. He cemented his place as an opener and will continue at the top. He can bat for 20 overs, but his not-bad SR needs improvement.
- MS Dhoni will be the skipper and wicketkeeper and play the finisher's role at number 5/6. He failed to perform in the last season with the bat, but one can never lose hope when MS is on strike.
List of Indian players Chennai Super Kings bought from the mega auction:
| Player | Role | Price | IPL 2021 Performance | SMAT 2021 Performance |
| A Raydu | Right-hand batsman + WK | 6.75 Cr | 16M, 257 runs, 28.56 avg, 151.18 SR | 5M, 115 runs, 38.33 avg, 155.41 SR |
| N Jagdeesan | Right-hand batsman + WK | 20 L | 5M, 33 runs, 16.50 avg, 113.79 SR | 16M, 568 runs, 43.69 avg, 121.37 SR |
| R Uthappa | Right-hand batsman + WK | 2 Cr | 4M, 115 runs, 28.75 avg, 136.90 SR | 7M, 227 runs, 37.83 avg, 140.99 SR |
| H Nishaanth | Left-hand batsman | 20 L | – | 16M, 446 runs, 34.31 avg, 125.99 SR |
| S Senapati | Right-hand batsman | 20 L | – | 10M, 284 runs, 31.56 avg, 120.34 SR |
| S Dube | All-rounder | 4 Cr | 9M, 230 runs + 0W | 10M, 262 runs + 4W |
| R Hangargekar | All-rounder | 1.5 Cr | – | 2M, 6 runs + 0W |
| B Varma | All-rounder | 20 L | – | – |
| D Chahar | Right-arm medium bowler | 14 Cr | 15M, 14W, 8.35 economy | 4M, 4W, 7.42 economy |
| KM Asif | Right-arm medium bowler | 20L | 1M, 1W, 8.31 economy | 9M, 9W, 8.60 economy |
| M Choudhary | Left-arm medium bowler | 20 L | – | 8M, 11W, 8.13 economy |
| S Singh | Right-arm medium bowler | 20 L | – | 10M, 13W, 7.65 economy |
| P Solanki | Right-arm leg-break bowler | 1.2 Cr | – | 1M, 1W, 6.50 economy |
| T Deshpande | Right-arm medium bowler | 20 L | – | 6M, 10W, 9.00 economy |
- Out of these 14 Indian players, the following will be playing in the squad most regularly:
D Chahar, A Raydu, S Dube, R Uthappa/N Jagadeesan. - D Chahar bowls his three overs in the first ten overs. He is Dhoni's 1st pick bowler, and his ability to swing the ball both ways makes him an ideal powerplay bowler.
- A Raydu and R Uthappa players for the number 3/4/5. Depending on where Jadeja bats and most likely Raydu will play at number 3 and Uthappa at 4. Both provide strength to middle-order if the top-order collapses.
- S Dube may be used as a floating hitter batsman. Just like Sam Curran was used in the last season of IPL. He can bowl medium-pace and can be the bowling option.
- N Jagdeesan can replace Raydu or Uthappa in case of injuries or bad form. He can bat at the top too.
- KM Asif is likely to get a place in the playing 11 more often this season.
- P Solanki is the only leg spinner in the CSK squad this year! But CSK will not be playing on the Chennai pitches; he may not get many chances.
- T Deshpande and M Choudhary will be the immediate bench bowlers and used against teams like Mumbai Indians.
List of foreign players Chennai Super Kings bought from the IPL 2022 mega auction:
| Player | Role | Price | IPL 2021 Performance | T20 Performance in 2021 |
| D Conway | Left-hand batsman | 1 Cr | – | 35M, 1222 runs, 50.92 avg, 130.98 SR |
| DJ Bravo | All-rounder | 4.4 Cr | 11M, 47 runs + 14W | 41M, 296 runs + 41W |
| C Jordan | All-rounder | 3.6 Cr | 4M, 32 runs + 4W | 43M, 188 runs + 37W |
| D Pretorius | All-rounder | 50 L | – | 15M, 51 runs + 20W |
| M Santner | All-rounder | 1.9 Cr | – | 19M, 106 runs + 14W |
| M Theekshana | Righ-arm off-spin bowler | 70 L | – | 36M, 40W, 5.99 economy |
| A Milne | Righ-arm fast bowler | 1.9 Cr | 4M, 3W, 9.36 economy | 36M, 32W, 7.57 economy |
Out of these seven overseas players, the following are most likely to get into the playing 11:
DJ Bravo, D Conway, C Jordan/M Theekshana.
- DJ Bravo is crucial in the middle overs and death overs. MS Dhoni can't think of playing without him in the playing 11.
- If D Conway is included in the playing 11, it will create a long batting order. Either Moeen will bat in the middle order, or Conway will play at number 3. And hence will lower the batting place of Raydu, Jadeja, and Dhoni.
- Jordan, along with Bravo, makes more sense for the death over bowling.
- Playing Theekshana and Moeen doesn't make sense since both are off-spinners.
- Pretorius can replace Bravo or Jordan in case of injuries.
- Another option for pace bowling is Adam Milne. Milne and Jordan can be used for similar roles in different conditions.
Too Many Batsmen?
Let's take a look at the batters in the squad who might be in the playing 11:
R Gaikwad, D Conway, A Raydu, R Uthappa, M Ali, R Jadeja, and MS Dhoni.
Moeen vs. Conway:
The choice here to make is the batting order of these batters. The recent form of Moeen Ali has proven his worth as an opener. At the same time, Conway is the opener and the number 3 batter. If both are in the playing 11, it makes more sense to play them at the number 1/2/3 positions only.
Raydu vs Uthappa vs Jadeja:
The top 3 are settled with Gaikwad, Moeen, and Conway. The number 4 position is vacant for Raydu, who used to play as an opener a few seasons back, and in-form Jadeja, who can hit the ball with a good strike rate. A place for both Uthappa and Raydu doesn't seem likely due to the batting order issue. Raydu may not be effective lower in the order. And Jadeja at the lower position may not be the smart use of his abilities.
Mahi the Finisher?
The last 2 season of IPL has shown that players other than MS Dhoni can finish the inning for the CSK. This brings the question over his batting position. Should it be before Jadeja at five or after Jadeja on 6/7?
Shivam Dube – X Factor for CSK?
Dube has shown his six-hitting abilities when batting in the middle order. He is yet to prove his worth as a bowler who can break the partnerships. MS Dhoni can turn anything into Gold. Maybe he will turn Dube into the next superstar all-rounder of IPL!
The Bowling Balance?
Here are the bowling options for CSK who may appear in the playing 11:
D Chahar, R Jadeja, DJ Bravo, M Ali, KM Asif, C Jordan, S Dube.
Chahar, Jadeja, and Bravo will complete their quota of 4-overs regularly. That leaves eight overs for other bowlers, including all-rounders. If Jordan keeps his bowling tight, he may complete his four overs regularly, and Moeen and Dube can complete the rest four overs.
Probable, Ideal, and Stable Playing 11 for Chennai Super Kings:
Openers: R Gaikwad, M Ali/ D Conway
Middle Order: D Conway/M Ali, A Raydu, R Jadeja, MS Dhoni,
All-rounders: S Dube, DJ Bravo,
Bowlers: D Chahar, KM Asif/M Choudhary, C Jordan.
Hidden players who can surprise: S Dube, P Solanki, M Choudhary, N Jagdeesan, H Nishaanth.
Strength:
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Opportunities:
| Threats:
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The Verdict
On paper, the CSK squad is looking unchanged from the previous season. A strong core team and more than-needed batting options are a plus point for CSK. However, the void Shardul Thakur left in the squad is hard to fill for any Indian fast bowler from the current team. Wankhede venue may not be suitable for the spinners of the CSK, and this may not result in favor of CSK. The place of Faf du Plessis is hard to fill, but Devon Conway fits perfectly as an opening option. Super Kings have more positive points in their hands than negative points about the upcoming season of IPL 2022. MS Dhoni already knows very well, and he will capitalize on the strength as always.
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