How CSK team looks in IPL 2023 All the details you want to know about

The Chennai Super Kings CSK are a franchise cricket team based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and play in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team, led by former Indian captain MS Dhoni, has been one of the most successful teams in the history of the IPL, with three titles to their name. The 2023 IPL season promises to be an exciting one for CSK, as the team looks to rebuild and return to its winning ways.

CSK had a disappointing season last time and finished in ninth place, with Ravindra Jadeja stepping down as captain. However, MS Dhoni is returning as captain for what may be his last IPL season and the team is hoping to win their fifth title. CSK acquired all-rounder Ben Stokes for a high price and there are speculations that he may be groome as the future captain. Additionally, the team has made some astute purchases with their remaining funds.

New Additions in time—

Chennai Super Kings bought seven players at the IPL 2023 auction and spent heavily on England all-rounder and Test captain Ben Stokes, making him the joint third -most expensive player in the history of the IPL at INR 16.25 crore.

The four-time champion focused on roping in all-rounders, which include Stokes, Kyle Jamieson and Indian uncapped players Ajay Mandal, Bhagath Varma and Nishant Sindhu. It also secured the services of veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane.

Bought: Ben Stokes (Rs 16.25 crore), Kyle Jamieson (Rs 1 crore), Bhagath Varma (Rs 20 lakh), Ajay Mandal (Rs 20 lakh), Nishant Sindhu (Rs 60 lakh), Shaik Rasheed (Rs 20 lakh), Ajinkya Rahane (Rs 50 lakh)

SWOT ANALYSIS –

Strengths—

The addition of Ben Stokes to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) roster strengthens the team’s already experienced lineup that includes Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali, and MS Dhoni. Stokes has proven himself to be a player for big occasions, as seen in his heroics during the T20 World Cup final. He is versatile in the batting order and can open with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who broke multiple records in the Vijay Hazare Trophy playing for Maharashtra. With Ajinkya Rahane joining the team as well, CSK now has a reliable backup, which is in line with the franchise’s philosophy of having experienced players in the squad.

Weakness

The Chennai Super Kings have a deep pool of spin bowlers including Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, and Maheesh Theekshana, which should enable them to dominate on the turning tracks at their home ground of Chepauk. However, their weakness may be exposed on pitches that offer even pace and bounce, as spinners are less effective on these surfaces. While wrist spinners are generally more useful on such tracks, the team has limited options in this department with only the inexperienced Prashant Solanki available. The addition of Kyle Jamieson to their bowling attack is a wise move, but he has limited experience playing T20 cricket and has not fully replaced the quality of Josh Hazlewood. Additionally, the absence of Dwayne Bravo could also be felt.

Oppurtunity

The inclusion of Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sindhu and Rajvardhan Hangargekar in the Chennai Super Kings squad provides a platform for young players from the Indian U19 team to showcase their talent. Hangargekar, who did not play in the previous season, could prove to be a valuable bowling all-rounder in the absence of Dwayne Bravo. Matheesha Pathirana, a Sri Lankan U19 star, also showed promise in limited game time last season and will have the chance to secure a place in the Chennai team for the future. These young players have a great opportunity to prove themselves and make a lasting impact.

Threats

Threats to IPL 2023 CSK Chennai Super Kings include the health of their key players. The franchise made a big investment in Deepak Chahar last year, but he was unable to play due to injury and this impacted their overall performance. Chahar’s exceptional abilities set him apart from other players like Mukesh Choudhary and Simarjeet Singh, but he is considere injury-prone. Any long-term injury to Chahar could once again have negative effects on the team’s season. Additionally, CSK does not have sufficient backups for important players like Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja and Ben Stokes, so any injury to the first XI players could result in difficulties for the team.

CSK IPL 2023 SQUAD COMPOSITION—

Wicketkeepers: MS Dhoni, Devon Conway (NZ).

Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Subhranshu Senapati, Shaik Rasheed, Ajinkya Rahane.

All-rounders: Moeen Ali (ENG), Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwaine Pretorius (SA), Mitchell Santner (NZ), Ben Stokes (ENG), Kyle Jamieson (NZ), Ajay Mandal, Bhagath Varma, Nishant Sindhu.

Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana (SL), Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana (SL).

However, based on their past performance and current roster, Chennai Super Kings are expected to be one of the top contenders for the title and their captain MS Dhoni is expected to play a key role in their campaign.

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