IPL 2020: 3 Players who can help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) win the IPL

The hopes of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2020 firmly lean on their captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Having lost the IPL 2019 final by a whisker, the boys from Chennai will be aiming to go one step further as they take the field in IPL 2020. The ‘experience’ is still there, and with a few exciting additions from the auction, the ‘Whistle Podu’ army can muster the hopes again.

But, not all is gold for the Men in Yellow. IPL 2019 saw the team struggling in the batting department- especially the top-order, and it was bound to a few key players to pull them out of trouble on most of the occasions.

While Cricket definitely a team sport, the things change slightly in the IPL as your best XI on the team-sheet depends on a lot of other factors such as the four-foreigner policy, salary-cap limitations, and even injuries to some extent. Hence, it is invariably bounded to a few key players, who ultimately turn out to be the match-winners. 

So, as we look at the players of the three-time champions, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), we identify 3 important players (1 each from batting, Bowling, and all-rounder category), who can help them win the IPL 2020 trophy. 

Bowling: Deepak Chahar

Alternative(s): Lungi Ngidi and Imran Tahir 

The rise of Deepak Chahar in the shortest format of the game is nothing short of extraordinary. The lad was not just CSK’s leading wicket-taker in IPL 2019, he was also the best pacer in the Indian Team in the T20Is- also making it to the 2019 T20I Team of the Year.

Next season too, Deepak’s role would remain pivotal in the team. Given his strengths, the medium-pacer will be expected to move the ball around, and play with the uncertainty on the batsman’s mind. With this plan, apart from restricting run-scoring in the powerplay, early wickets could fall too.

While Deepak had minimal support from the other pacers in IPL 2019, the upcoming edition would see many new additions like Sam Curran, Josh Hazlewood along with the effective, Lungi Ngidi. With the support of these pacers, Deepak would be looking to bowl with a lot more freedom; thus being more effective. 

All-rounder: Dwayne Bravo

Alternative(s): Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran 

Dwayne Bravo is the most experienced bowler in the CSK line-up. While a few years ago, Bravo bowled mostly at the death, the last two seasons has seen the Caribbean cricketer bowl during the middle-overs. That has partly been because of the lack of seamers who could pick wickets from overs 7 to 14. 

Nonetheless, the cricketer’s primary responsibility would still be to do well at the death, and MS Dhoni will rely on his pinpoint yorkers and well-disguised slower deliveries to control the run-flow at the end. Also, since the other bowlers are relatively inexperienced in this department, there will be added responsibility for Bravo to perform. 

Moreover, Bravo will have to fire with the bat too for CSK in IPL 2020. The 36-year-old is no muck with the willow, and considering the team’s top-order is slightly out of touch, Bravo would have to rise to the occasion at times to support the men batting above him.

Batsman: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Alternative(s): Suresh Raina and Faf du Plessis

Absolutely no guesses in the batting department! It has to be the captain cool, who will yet again be CSK’s fulcrum in the forthcoming season. While MS Dhoni might have stood outside the doorsteps of the game for a while now, familiar surrounding and a yellow on his chest, the ‘form’ is bound to arrive.

CSK also exposed a few cracks in their batting unit in IPL 2019, which were mostly filled by Ms Dhoni; CSK’s most bankable batsman last year. Hence, the captain must ensure these crevices do not develop further. Coming at No.5 or even No.4, MS must make sure the team do not lose wickets in succession at significant junctures.

He has also been in terrific form in IPL 2018, and has combined average of over 75 in the last two editions (83.20 in IPL 2019!). Moreover, with the T20 World Cup 2020 scheduled after IPL 2020, MS Dhoni, who we believe is also eyeing an International comeback will have to score in this tournament to stay in contention. Hence, MS Dhoni’s role is very important in this Team. 

So, these are the three players who are going to play a crucial role in CSK’s fourth IPL triumph. Apart from these, CSK would need Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, Ravindra Jadeja to name a few key players to also step up. 

Thanks for reading! Who according to you can help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) win the IPL 2020? Please let us know in the comments section.  

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