Ahead of the 2023 Indian Premier League, the CSK had a lot of fanfare but little expectation. The Men in Yellow exceeded expectations and started the season strong with two wins from three matches, leaving them comfortably in the top half of the points table. Although they have had decent batting performances, and their bowling has been better than expected, they still have some work to do before they can be considered real contenders to lift the trophy. Here we look at 3 questions that CSK must find out to become a genuine contender in IPL 2023:
3) Whose place will Maheesh Theekshana take?
Maheesh Theekshana has recently joined the CSK squad ahead of their clash against RR, having recently completed his international assignment with Sri Lanka. The spinner was one of the best bowlers in IPL 2022, and he will likely enter the playing XI directly. Though, this leaves the question of who he will replace, as the Super Kings have already used six overseas players in the tournament, all possessing unique skill sets. If they manage to find the perfect combination with the addition of Theekshana, CSK could form a formidable side.
2) Is Ben Stokes really needed in the playing XI?
Despite Ben Stokes’ reputation as an all-format player, his T20 credentials are still in question. He has notable drawbacks in his game, making him an unlikely candidate to be a part of the Chennai Super Kings squad. Stokes’ spin bowling isn’t particularly strong, and his other bowling skills aren’t reliable either, having bowled only one over in IPL 2023 due to a knee injury. Therefore, Moeen Ali, Mitchell Santner, Theekshana and Conway might make better overseas players for the team. If the conditions don’t require spin bowling, either Pretorius or Magala could be a good replacement for one of the spin-bowling all-rounders. While it’s hard to leave ₹16.25 crore on the bench, it may be the best decision in order to find the perfect balance for the squad.
1) How can CSK utilize the most out of Jadeja?
Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling has improved drastically over the past two IPL campaigns. He was once an inconsistent T20 bowler in all parts of the game but is now evolving into an economical bowler who can also take wickets. However, Chennai Super Kings isn’t utilizing the former Indian cricketer’s potential to the fullest. Santner has been CSK’s primary left-arm spinner in this edition of the IPL, thus relegating Jadeja to a secondary role with the ball. The all-rounder has yet to be able to make an impact with the bat, either. He hasn’t been batting in the top five due to his spin limitations, and his power-hitting hasn’t quite been up to the mark. CSK should find his optimum batting position and ensure they can get the most runs from his bat.