IPL 2022, CSK Preview: Deepak Chahar’s absence a challenge for new captain Ravindra Jadeja

Captain: Ravindra Jadeja


Coaching Staff: Stephen Fleming (head coach), Michael Hussey (batting coach), L Balaji (bowling coach), Eric Simons (bowling consultant), Rajiv Kumar (fielding coach), Tommy Simsek (physiotherapist)

Owner: Chennai Super Kings Ltd.


Best Performance: Winners 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021

2021 Performance: Champions, beat KKR in the final

SQUAD

MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja (c), Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Dwayne Bravo, Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Maheesh Theekshana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Simarjeet Singh, Devon Conway, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Subhranshu Senapati, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, C Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Chris Jordan, K Bhagath Varma

Players’ Availability

Deepak Chahar is set to miss a big chunk of IPL 2022 with a quadriceps injury. South Africa’s Dwaine Pretorius will miss their opening game. Moeen Ali is doubtful for their opener against Kolkata Knight Riders, due to delayed visa.


Batting

MS Dhoni’s decision to step down as captain after 12 seasons at the helm may not affect CSK in any way, particularly batting. He stopped being a batting force several seasons ago. Dhoni brought value with his on-the-feet thinking and smart decisions, and he will continue to do that, captain or not captain.

CSK’s batting line-up may not look threatening but it’s certainly experienced and has depth, with their potential No. 11 Adam Milne having four first-class half-centuries. Ruturaj Gaikwad will most likely be paired with Robin Uthappa. Devon Conway is an exciting addition to their squad but his inclusion in the Playing XI will force them to drop one overseas bowler, which may not be desirable considering Deepak Chahar’s absence. In Moeen Ali’s absence, however, Conway may get his IPL debut.

Moeen, Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja will man the middle-order and form the core of their batting, while the hard-hitting all-rounder Shivam Dube, Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo will be providing the finishing touches to their innings. Fresh from U-19 World Cup triumph, young Rajvardhan Hangargekar will be eager to impress and look to showcase his big-hitting at the big stage.

Bowling

CSK spent Rs 14 crore in the auction to re-hire Deepak Chahar but then immediately after that he picked a quadriceps injury and is now set to miss a big chunk of the IPL season. This has shaken up CSK’s bowling plans. Now they have to try some combinations and see what suits them while hoping that their qualification chances are not greatly hurt. Though they have multiple options — both overseas and local — to make up for Chahar’s unavailability. Chris Jordan and Dwaine Pretorius are multi-utility players and Milne has raw pace but none of them are powerplay bowlers. Among locals, Tushar Deshpande could be a good option. CSK can also use Sri Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana in the powerplay.

Death bowling will be a concern since Bravo is way past his prime and no longer as effective as he used to be. Jordan and Milne are prone to leaking runs in the death overs.

In the spin department, they lack an experienced wrist spinner. All their main options are finger spinners. The only wrist spin option is squad is Prashant Solanki, who has played only one IPL match. But with Dhoni behind the stumps, does it really matter? After all, in CSK’s triumphant campaign last year, wrist spinner Imran Tahir got only one game.

Potential Playing XI

1 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2 Robin Uthappa, 3 Moeen Ali/Devon Conway, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Ravindra Jadeja (c), 6 Shivam Dube, 7 MS Dhoni (wk), 8 Dwayne Bravo, 9 Rajvardhan Hangargekar, 10 Chris Jordan/Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Adam Milne