CSK Playing 11 IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings Predicted Playing XI for Indian Premier League 2021

CSK Playing 11 IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings splurged a total of INR 82.45 crore to fill their 25-player quota for IPL 2021.

Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings made the most of the auction for the 14th season of the Indian Premier League by spending a total of INR 17.35 crore on six players.

With veteran batsmen such as Suresh Raina (vice-captain) and Robin Uthappa (traded from Rajasthan Royals) also in the squad, Super Kings have a strong and flexible unit. The highlight of Chennai’s IPL 2021 squad is the presence of enough like-for-like replacements and several players who can perform dual roles.

The “floating” nature of the squad means that Dhoni can promote and demote players, a part of cricket at which he is ridiculously good at, based on the condition/situation/opposition.

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Dhoni, who is known to be averse to making multiple changes in successive matches, might make a slight change to his approach after having 25 players in the team.

CSK Playing 11 IPL 2021

Top-order

It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if Super Kings persist with the opening pair of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis in IPL 2021. Gaikwad, who scored three match-winning half-centuries in the last three matches of IPL 2020, deserves a longer rope.

du Plessis, on the other hand, has done enough over the years at CSK to not lose his spot. The recently retired Test cricketer, who had top-scored for CSK last season, had amassed a total of 2,088 runs in 70 innings at an average ans strike rate of 33.14 and 129.53 respectively for them.

What should also not be a surprise is Raina’s return at No. 3. Despite him having played limited competitive cricket in the last two years or so, the left-hand batsman continues to be a pivotal part of Super Kings.

Middle-order

The middle-order at Chennai is likely to see most changes throughout the tournament primarily due to the nature of their squad and batting promotions. The constants, i.e., Ambati Rayudu, Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, will continue to bat in the middle-order with the likes of Moeen Ali, Sam Curran and Krishnappa Gowtham moving up and down as per the requirement.

If not in the starting XI, expect Uthappa to play an important role either at the top or in the middle as the tournament progresses. Cheteshwar Pujara, who will be playing in the IPL after seven years, might also be given a role at the top of the order.

In such a scenario, there is a possibility of du Plessis batting in the middle order. Veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who has finished many matches for Super Kings, will most probably be shifted in the lower order due to his dwindling batting returns.

Bowlers

CSK and Dhoni, who are a fan of playing around with their bowlers, shouldn’t be worried in this department either. Given the amount of bowlers and specialist all-rounders they have, Super Kings will enjoy an elongated batting lineup this season.

As far as the Indian pacers are concerned, the tried and tested Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur are likely to play together or on rotational basis depending on the demand. While Curran will play as an all-rounder, the spot for the overseas pacer will be rotated between Josh Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi.

On turning tracks, Dhoni will have the luxury of playing veteran spinner Imran Tahir as the fourth overseas player in place of an overseas pacer. First-choice spinners, on the other hand, should be covered in the all-rounder segment in Jadeja, Gowtham and Ali. Having said that, the team management will also be keen to try out R. Sai Kishore after his praiseworthy performances in the domestic circuit.

CSK Predicted Playing XI – 1) Ruturaj Gaikwad 2) Faf du Plessis 3) Suresh Raina 4) Ambati Rayudu 5) MS Dhoni (c & wk) 6) Moeen Ali 7) Ravindra Jadeja 8) Sam Curran 9) Krishnappa Gowtham 10) Deepak Chahar 11) Josh Hazlewood