IPL 2018: 3 things that CSK need to rectify going into the Playoffs

If Chennai wish to clinch the IPL this year, here are 3 things that CSK need to rectify going into the playoffs.

Being on a winning roll is a great thing, or is it? There is always a danger of success getting to your head when you keep winning. As a result, the base may get very hollow and the team stands just one defeat away from a big collapse.

However, the case with CSK is not so. Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, the side keeps introspecting with the skipper leading from the front.

“Losses like these make you humble. If you keep winning, you don’t know the areas you’ve to work hard. It’s a good game, gives us an idea of what we should do in such situations – whether we need to score 20 runs more. It’s still early in the competition,” said the CSK captain after loss against Mumbai Indians.

Extending forward the argument of MS Dhoni, there remain several things that CSK need to work on in order to strive towards perfection. If Chennai wish to clinch the IPL this year, here are 3 things that CSK need to rectify going into the playoffs:

Death bowling

CSK has been great with the bat this season. The likes of Ambati Rayudu and Shane Watson have blasted the bowlers first up. Raina has also played a couple of explosive knocks. And towards the end, MSD has done what he does best. This has resulted in a complete performance by the CSK team as far as their batting is concerned.

Also read: Watch Mark Wood sings a tribute for CSK teammate Ambati Rayudu

But when it comes to bowling, the team is thin on resources. At a time when Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar were making the ball talk, David Willey went for plenty in the last match against Pune. Even someone like of Dwayne Bravo who is considered to be a good death bowler has struggled in this season.

Overseas pacer

Mark Wood has already returned back to England in order to prepare for his County stint for Durham. Lungi Nigidi, who had flown to South Africa following the demise of his father, is now back and available for selection.

David Willey also seems to have lost track. Even in swinging conditions in Pune, when Dhoni threw the ball to Willey, the bowler was lacking confidence and surprising bowled cross seam deliveries. When he returned for a one-off over later, he again proved to be expensive.

CSK are yet to settle with their bowling combination. With Willey struggling, they are expected to bring in Ngidi for the next game.

No 5 batsman

The other thing that CSK have been struggling with is their No 5 slot in the batting order. With the overall batting working like a well oiled machinery, this is the only slot that is still not fixed.

They have been juggling between Faf du Plessis and Sam Billings as both batsmen are taking turns. However, Faf cannot bat at any other place except the top order. This then disrupts their opening combination of Watson and Rayudu which has been working so well for CSK.

It now looks quite certain that CSK would persist with Billings and give him a longer rope.