After serving a 2-year ban, CSK have made a grand entry to IPL 2018. In their very first match against MI this year, which also happened to be the season opener, CSK announced it loud and clear that they can win from any situation.
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After they clinched victory from the jaws of defeat in that match against Mumbai, Chennai have not looked back. After a couple of matches, skipper MS Dhoni also hit his straps and he has led from the front ever since.
Oscillating between the No. 1 and No. 2 spot in the points table, CSK are pretty much guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.
In the last match, they made three sweeping changes which is very uncharacteristic of Chennai. However, they have not tinkered with their core set of players.
Some of the CSK players have hit a purple patch and are performing on a consistent basis. Here is a list of 3 such CSK players who will help the team win the title this year.
MS Dhoni
We are seeing a new and improved version of MS Dhoni in this year’s IPL. Once he got going after a couple of initial glitches, he has single handedly finished matches for his team. With scores of 31, 43, 51, 26, 70, 25, 5 and 79 in his last 8 IPL innings, Dhoni is certainly on a roll.
Mahi has got back his golden touch. He is looking way more self assured and one can certainly see glimpses of the young Dhoni who once used to clear the boundary at will.
Apart from his batting heroics, he has developed himself into a safe keeper. He may not be the most technically correct but that doesn’t matter, does it?
The veteran keeper-batsman is also a natural leader and vastly experienced in the craft. Specially, when spinners are in operation, he controls the pace of the game at will.
Having already led his team twice to the IPL title, he knows fully well what it feels like to be at the apex. And if you can do it twice, you can certainly do it the third time around.
Ambati Rayudu
IPL 2018 has been a breakout year for Ambati Rayudu. He has been around for a while but never has one seen such clean and consistent striking from him.
With 423 runs in 10 games, Rayudu is the current Purple Cap holder. He sports an average of 42.30 and a strike rate of over 150.
Rayudu has been shuffled across in the batting order but his best place is at the top of the order. However, his flexibility to bat anywhere and still score runs makes him an absolute asset for the team.
Shane Watson
Shane Watson is another player on whom age seems to be having no effect. After a wonderful PSL, Watson is looking a much improved player this season.
For his efforts of 78 and 106, he has bagged the Man of the Match twice and is looking hungry for more. The Aussie plays with a good strike rate and can be instrumental in giving CSK an explosive start moving forward.
Also, Watson provides his services with the ball. On an average he may be a 2 over bowler, but on his day he can also bowl 4 overs and also pick up crucial wickets.
