The Sri Lankan pair of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana has joined the team after completing their international duties. They are expected to be available for selection, and Theekshana is especially anticipated to play a key role in the team.
So far in the IPL 2023, CSK has already fielded all six available overseas players. While Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali were missing in the last match, Mitchell Santner, Dwaine Pretorius, Sisanda Magala, and Devon Conway have all played for the franchise this year. With the addition of Theekshana, CSK has a wealth of options and will need to ensure that they can add him to the playing XI without disrupting the balance of the team.
Here are three possible overseas combinations that the Chennai Super Kings could consider in the 2023 IPL when Maheesh Theekshana returns.
Replacing Conway with Theekshana and making Stokes an opener
Devon Conway has been a reliable option for the Chennai Super Kings and has earned the trust of the management. However, his weaknesses have been exposed away from home in IPL 2023. While he is excellent against spin, he struggles against swing and seam, particularly in the early stages of his innings. With opener Ruturaj Gaikwad having similar limitations, it might be a luxury that CSK cannot afford.
To make the most of their investment in Ben Stokes, CSK could consider dropping Conway for Theekshana, which would allow Stokes to open the innings. Stokes is at his best at the top of the order and could provide the team with a strong start. Additionally, this would give Gaikwad a pace shield, which he has lacked since Faf du Plessis left.
Replacing Stokes with Theekshana
Although Ben Stokes is a crucial player for CSK, he is currently recovering from a toe injury, and the team might not necessarily require his contributions to succeed. In fact, their ideal playing XI may not even include the star all-rounder, despite his high price tag and relationship with captain MS Dhoni.
In Stokes’ absence, CSK could field a team consisting of Mitchell Santner, Moeen Ali, Theekshana, and Conway, especially on spin-friendly pitches at home. However, on away matches where pace-friendly conditions prevail, they could opt to replace one of the spin-bowling all-rounders with either Dwaine Pretorius or Sisanda Magala. This approach would provide the team with flexibility and the ability to adapt to different conditions while maintaining a balanced squad.
Substituting Santner with Theekshana
While Mitchell Santner has performed exceptionally well in IPL 2023, Ravindra Jadeja’s improved bowling displays mean that CSK may not necessarily require two left-arm spinners in their playing XI.
Incorporating Theekshana into the team, alongside Conway, Stokes, and Moeen, could create a lethal overseas core consisting of players with diverse skill sets and justifying their high price tags and recent performances.
This selection would provide CSK with a well-balanced team that could perform consistently in all conditions, making it unnecessary to have different teams for home and away matches. While Santner has been impressive, dropping him to accommodate Theekshana seems like the most likely option when all overseas players are available for selection.
