Chennai Super Kings – IPL 2020 Team Preview

Chennai Super Kings famously known as CSK is one of the franchise teams of the Indian Premier League based on Southern city of Chennai. CSK team is owned by a separate entity called Chennai Super Kings Pvt. Ltd. Chennai is one of the eight teams to feature in the inaugural 2008 inaugural season. CSK has won the IPL title thrice so far and are the most consistent team in the tournament`s history as they qualified for the knockouts in every season. CSK was suspended from the IPL for two seasons from 2016 to 2017. CSK is the most followed franchise team in the cricket circuit all over the world across the social media. 

CSK team has been hugely hit by the COVID-19 with almost 10-15 members of the team including a couple of players were tested positive for the virus. To add to that, experienced players Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh pulled out of the tournament due to some personal reasons and will not be available for the entire season. Deepak Chahar and Rituraj Gaikwad were the players affected by the COVID-19 in the CSK camp. 

No. of seasons played: 10 (2008-2015, 2018-2019)

Best Result: Winners in 2010, 2011, & 2018 seasons

2019 Season result: Runners-up (Lost to Mumbai Indians in Finals)

Coach: Stephen Fleming

Matches played: 165

Won: 100

Lost: 64

No result: 1

Best Win-loss ratio: 9-3 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Least Win-loss ratio: 11-17 vs. Mumbai Indians

Squad

Now, let`s analyze the team combination, squad strength, and different player options available in the Chennai Super Kings for the IPL 2020. CSK is one of the top teams to look out for in every season as they never missed the bus for knockouts. 

Captain: MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni needs no introduction in the international circuit as he has won all the trophies in the international and league stages he participated. MS Dhoni retired for international cricket a month before the start of the IPL 2020 and will look to treat his fans in this season. 

Batsmen: Ambati Rayudu, Faf Du Plessis, Murali Vijay, Rituraj Gaikwad, Shane Watson, Kedhar Jadhav

Shane Watson and Faf Du Plessis are vastly experienced international stars in all formats. They both are expected to slot in mostly as openers. Kedhar Jadhav and Ambati Rayadu will come in the middle order and have experience of playing cricket at the highest level. Murali Vijay may slot in as an opener if CSK management decide to use only one foreign player in opening. Rituraj Gaikwad is a rookie player and he is yet to make a mark in the IPL.   

All-rounders: Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Mitchell Santner, Piyush Chawla, Monu Kumar

Chennai has a host of all-rounders in their team who can contribute with both bat and ball effectively. Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to play in the starting XI as all-rounders. Piyush Chawla and Sam Curran were added in this year`s auction and are yet to debut for CSK in the IPL so far. Mitchell Santner can be effective bowler and batsmen and conditions in UAE can suit his bowling. 

Wicket-Keepers: N Jagadeesan

Jagadeesan will be reserve keeper in the squad with Skipper MS Dhoni expected to don the keeping gloves. 

Bowlers: Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi, Josh Hazlewood, Karn Sharma, KM Asif, Ravi Sai Kishore

Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur have improved a lot form their last campaign and have represented the Indian team in international T20I matches. Lungi Ngidi and Josh Hazlewood are the foreign pacers available in the team. Imran Tahir and Karn Sharma are experienced T20 spinners who has vast experience in IPL. KM Asif & Sai Kishore are the rookie pacers in the squad who are expected to serve as the replacement players. 

Best possible XI

MS Dhoni (C & Wk), Shane Watson, Murali Vijay, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Faf Du Plessis/Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Imran Tahir, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar

Remaining Players: Rituraj Gaikwad, Mitchell Santner, Piyush Chawla, Monu Kumar, N Jagadeesan, Lungi Ngidi, Josh Hazlewood, Karn Sharma, KM Asif, Ravi Sai Kishore

CSK IPL 2020 Schedule

Chennai Super Kings will play their opening match against Mumbai Indians on the tournament opener.   Here is the complete schedule of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2020.

IPL 2020 Prediction

CSK are one of the strongest teams in the IPL with their skipper MS Dhoni at helm. They have good depth in their batting line-up and a variety of spinners in their squad, their spinners might prove to be tough to play in these helpful conditions. With an experienced batting line-up, spin bowling troop, and good pacer bowlers capable of varying the pace, they have every department covered. Their biggest worry might be fitness of the players and non-availability of Raina and Harbhajan at the last minute which might alter the team combination greatly. We expect the Chennai Super Kings to be in the top two teams of the league with their star power and team composition. 

Top players to bet on

1. Ravindra Jadeja – Middle order batsmen & Left-arm spinner (All-rounder) 
2. Shane Watson – Aggressive top order batsmen and occasionally bowls
3. Imran Tahir – Attacking Wicket-taking spinner 
4. Deepak Chahar – Seamer who opens the bowling attack 
5. MS Dhoni – Finisher, Wicket-keeper & Skipper

Schedule – League matches

1. Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings, 1st Match

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Sep 19, Sat 7:30 PM 

1. Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, 4th Match

Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Sep 22, Tue, 7:30 PM

1. Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals, 7th Match

Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Sep 25, Fri, 7:30 PM

1. Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 14th Match

Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Oct 02, Fri, 7:30 PM

1. Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings, 18th Match

Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Oct 04, 7:30 PM

1. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings, 21st Match

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Oct 07, Wed, 7:30 PM

1. Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 25th Match

Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Oct 10, Sat, 7:30 PM

1. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings, 29th Match

Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Oct 13, Tue, 7:30 PM

1. Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings, 34th Match

Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Oct 17, Sat, 7:30 PM

1. Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, 37th Match

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Oct 19, Mon, 7:30 PM

1. Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians, 41st Match

Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Oct 23, Fri, 7:30 PM

1. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings, 44th Match

Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Oct 25, Sun, 3:30 PM

1. Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 49th Match

Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Oct 29, Thu, 7:30 PM

1. Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab, 53rd Match

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Nov 01, Sun, 3:30 PM

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