Suresh Raina has been one of the greatest players in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is the only batsman to have scored more than 350 runs in seven consecutive seasons. His nickname is &#8220;Mr. IPL&#8221; for a reason. Raina has been synonymous with CSK and the fans in Chennai often call him &#8220;Chinna Thala&#8221;.

Raina has been one of their best players without a doubt. He is the first player to play 100 matches for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has been their most consistent batsman. He has scored 4527 runs from 164 IPL games for the franchise. Raina is also the second-highest scorer in IPL history with 5368 runs, only behind <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crictracker/photos/a.601832999847425/3839054882791871" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Virat Kohli’s</a> tally of 5412, and has taken the most catches (102) in the tournament&#8217;s history. He has made the No.3 spot his own.

However Raina won&#8217;t be playing this season due to personal reasons and has already returned home. As CSK&#8217;S most consistent batsman won&#8217;t be available for them this time around, they will be needing another number 3 batsman to bat for them. CSK might not be able to fill in the massive gap left by Raina, but still need a good number.3 batsman.

In the article, we take a look at 3 players who can bat at 3 for CSK instead of Suresh Raina in IPL 2020:-

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350375" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_363676.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-350375" class="wp-caption-text">Chennai Super Kings&#8217; Ambati Rayudu in action. (Photo: IANS)</figcaption>

Ambati Rayudu is tailor-made to bat at 3 for CSK. He is someone who likes to take his time to settle, understand the conditions and then go for the big shots. Rayudu fits perfectly at 3 for CSK as he can hold the innings from one hand and provides stability during a batting collapse.

Rayudu was very successful as an opener for CSK in 2018. He enjoys batting at the top and has done it in the past for the Mumbai Indians as well. He was asked to bat at 3 for MI back in 2014 and did a really good job at that position. Thus batting at 3 won&#8217;t be new for him.

Rayudu is an IPL veteran and has an average of 28.7 at a strike rate of 125.95. Despite having a mediocre season in 2019 CSK retained him and backed him. CSK are a team which believe in experience and thus would want an experienced player at 3 and hence would want Rayudu to bat at this position. This would also be a golden opportunity for Rayudu to prove his critics wrong and show them that he still has it in him.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-348558" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-and-Ruturaj-Gaikwad.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-348558" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The 23-year old batsman, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2020-chennai-super-kings-csk-considering-youngster-ruturaj-gaikwad-to-fill-suresh-rainas-void/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ruturaj Gaikwad</a>, from Pune is a technically as well as temperamentally strong top-order player. He had a fantastic domestic season in 2019 and is raring to go on the field once again. Since CSK will be playing without Suresh Raina this season, IPL 2020 might just be his breakthrough year. This might be the season where he showcases his talent to the world.

Despite not playing in the IPL before, Gaikwad is not someone who lacks experience. He has spent quality time with the experienced CSK squad. Ruturaj might not have the reliability factor that Raina provides, but does have the ability to play with a good technique and also score at a brisk pace. Gaikwad might just prove to be the right guy to bat at 3.

Gaikwad has generally played as an opener and is used to batting at the top. This doesn&#8217;t mean that he can&#8217;t bat at 3 as he has the technique as well as the skills to do so. Gaikwad had impressed Dhoni during CSK&#8217;s brief practice in Chennai before the squad flew to Dubai. Once he tests negative, he should resume training from September 10 and could be CSK&#8217;S number 3 batsman this season.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-340712" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Faf-du-Plessis-1.jpg" alt="Faf du Plessis Chennai Super Kings" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-340712" class="wp-caption-text">Faf du Plessis. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)</figcaption>

The former South Africa captain has a batting average of 36 at a strike rate of 135 at 3 while batting for SA in T20Is. His ODI batting average at 3 is a whooping 55 at a strike rate of 88. This means that he can very well bat at 3 and has a lot of experience batting at that position. Arguably one of the best batsmen of the generation, Faf is someone who would need to be at his best this season if CSK are to have a good season this time around.

Faf has been batting at the top for CSK for the past 2 seasons. He has been fairly successful as well. He has a batting average of 33 and a strike rate of 127 while batting in the top 3 for CSK in the IPL. Another important point to consider is the experience which Faf possesses.

Having been SA&#8217;s best T20I batsman for a while now, he stands as one of the top contenders to bat at 3 for CSK this season. Faf has been one of CSK&#8217;S most trusted overseas players as he was with the team even before becoming a regular for SA. Faf is a vital cog for the Yellow Army and thus has a good chance to bat at 3 as they would want someone who could anchor the innings. Besides, he&#8217;s one of the few CSK batsman who is still active in international cricket.

Suresh Raina has been one of the greatest players in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is the only batsman to have scored more than 350 runs in seven consecutive seasons. His nickname is “Mr. IPL” for a reason. Raina has been synonymous with CSK and the fans in Chennai often call him “Chinna Thala”.
Raina has been one of their best players without a doubt. He is the first player to play 100 matches for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has been their most consistent batsman. He has scored 4527 runs from 164 IPL games for the franchise. Raina is also the second-highest scorer in IPL history with 5368 runs, only behind <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crictracker/photos/a.601832999847425/3839054882791871" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Virat Kohli’s</a> tally of 5412, and has taken the most catches (102) in the tournament’s history. He has made the No.3 spot his own.
However Raina won’t be playing this season due to personal reasons and has already returned home. As CSK’S most consistent batsman won’t be available for them this time around, they will be needing another number 3 batsman to bat for them. CSK might not be able to fill in the massive gap left by Raina, but still need a good number.3 batsman.
<h3>In the article, we take a look at 3 players who can bat at 3 for CSK instead of Suresh Raina in IPL 2020:-</h3>
<h3>1) Ambati Rayudu</h3>
<figure id="attachment_350375" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350375" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-350375" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_363676.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-350375" class="wp-caption-text">Chennai Super Kings’ Ambati Rayudu in action. (Photo: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
Ambati Rayudu is tailor-made to bat at 3 for CSK. He is someone who likes to take his time to settle, understand the conditions and then go for the big shots. Rayudu fits perfectly at 3 for CSK as he can hold the innings from one hand and provides stability during a batting collapse.
Rayudu was very successful as an opener for CSK in 2018. He enjoys batting at the top and has done it in the past for the Mumbai Indians as well. He was asked to bat at 3 for MI back in 2014 and did a really good job at that position. Thus batting at 3 won’t be new for him.
Rayudu is an IPL veteran and has an average of 28.7 at a strike rate of 125.95. Despite having a mediocre season in 2019 CSK retained him and backed him. CSK are a team which believe in experience and thus would want an experienced player at 3 and hence would want Rayudu to bat at this position. This would also be a golden opportunity for Rayudu to prove his critics wrong and show them that he still has it in him.

<h3>2) Ruturaj Gaikwad</h3>
<figure id="attachment_348558" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-348558" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-348558" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-and-Ruturaj-Gaikwad.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-348558" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
The 23-year old batsman, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2020-chennai-super-kings-csk-considering-youngster-ruturaj-gaikwad-to-fill-suresh-rainas-void/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ruturaj Gaikwad</a>, from Pune is a technically as well as temperamentally strong top-order player. He had a fantastic domestic season in 2019 and is raring to go on the field once again. Since CSK will be playing without Suresh Raina this season, IPL 2020 might just be his breakthrough year. This might be the season where he showcases his talent to the world.
Despite not playing in the IPL before, Gaikwad is not someone who lacks experience. He has spent quality time with the experienced CSK squad. Ruturaj might not have the reliability factor that Raina provides, but does have the ability to play with a good technique and also score at a brisk pace. Gaikwad might just prove to be the right guy to bat at 3.
Gaikwad has generally played as an opener and is used to batting at the top. This doesn’t mean that he can’t bat at 3 as he has the technique as well as the skills to do so. Gaikwad had impressed Dhoni during CSK’s brief practice in Chennai before the squad flew to Dubai. Once he tests negative, he should resume training from September 10 and could be CSK’S number 3 batsman this season.

<h3>3) Faf Du Plessis</h3>
<figure id="attachment_340712" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-340712" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-340712" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Faf-du-Plessis-1.jpg" alt="Faf du Plessis Chennai Super Kings" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-340712" class="wp-caption-text">Faf du Plessis. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
The former South Africa captain has a batting average of 36 at a strike rate of 135 at 3 while batting for SA in T20Is. His ODI batting average at 3 is a whooping 55 at a strike rate of 88. This means that he can very well bat at 3 and has a lot of experience batting at that position. Arguably one of the best batsmen of the generation, Faf is someone who would need to be at his best this season if CSK are to have a good season this time around.
Faf has been batting at the top for CSK for the past 2 seasons. He has been fairly successful as well. He has a batting average of 33 and a strike rate of 127 while batting in the top 3 for CSK in the IPL. Another important point to consider is the experience which Faf possesses.
Having been SA’s best T20I batsman for a while now, he stands as one of the top contenders to bat at 3 for CSK this season. Faf has been one of CSK’S most trusted overseas players as he was with the team even before becoming a regular for SA. Faf is a vital cog for the Yellow Army and thus has a good chance to bat at 3 as they would want someone who could anchor the innings. Besides, he’s one of the few CSK batsman who is still active in international cricket.

Suresh Raina has been one of the greatest players in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is the only batsman to have scored more than 350 runs in seven consecutive seasons. His nickname is &#8220;Mr. IPL&#8221; for a reason. Raina has been synonymous with CSK and the fans in Chennai often call him &#8220;Chinna Thala&#8221;.
Raina has been one of their best players without a doubt. He is the first player to play 100 matches for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has been their most consistent batsman. He has scored 4527 runs from 164 IPL games for the franchise. Raina is also the second-highest scorer in IPL history with 5368 runs, only behind <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crictracker/photos/a.601832999847425/3839054882791871" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Virat Kohli’s</a> tally of 5412, and has taken the most catches (102) in the tournament&#8217;s history. He has made the No.3 spot his own.
However Raina won&#8217;t be playing this season due to personal reasons and has already returned home. As CSK&#8217;S most consistent batsman won&#8217;t be available for them this time around, they will be needing another number 3 batsman to bat for them. CSK might not be able to fill in the massive gap left by Raina, but still need a good number.3 batsman.
<h3>In the article, we take a look at 3 players who can bat at 3 for CSK instead of Suresh Raina in IPL 2020:-</h3>
<h3>1) Ambati Rayudu</h3>
<figure id="attachment_350375" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350375" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350375" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_363676.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-350375" class="wp-caption-text">Chennai Super Kings&#8217; Ambati Rayudu in action. (Photo: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
Ambati Rayudu is tailor-made to bat at 3 for CSK. He is someone who likes to take his time to settle, understand the conditions and then go for the big shots. Rayudu fits perfectly at 3 for CSK as he can hold the innings from one hand and provides stability during a batting collapse.
Rayudu was very successful as an opener for CSK in 2018. He enjoys batting at the top and has done it in the past for the Mumbai Indians as well. He was asked to bat at 3 for MI back in 2014 and did a really good job at that position. Thus batting at 3 won&#8217;t be new for him.
Rayudu is an IPL veteran and has an average of 28.7 at a strike rate of 125.95. Despite having a mediocre season in 2019 CSK retained him and backed him. CSK are a team which believe in experience and thus would want an experienced player at 3 and hence would want Rayudu to bat at this position. This would also be a golden opportunity for Rayudu to prove his critics wrong and show them that he still has it in him.

<h3>2) Ruturaj Gaikwad</h3>
<figure id="attachment_348558" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-348558" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-348558" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-and-Ruturaj-Gaikwad.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-348558" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
The 23-year old batsman, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2020-chennai-super-kings-csk-considering-youngster-ruturaj-gaikwad-to-fill-suresh-rainas-void/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ruturaj Gaikwad</a>, from Pune is a technically as well as temperamentally strong top-order player. He had a fantastic domestic season in 2019 and is raring to go on the field once again. Since CSK will be playing without Suresh Raina this season, IPL 2020 might just be his breakthrough year. This might be the season where he showcases his talent to the world.
Despite not playing in the IPL before, Gaikwad is not someone who lacks experience. He has spent quality time with the experienced CSK squad. Ruturaj might not have the reliability factor that Raina provides, but does have the ability to play with a good technique and also score at a brisk pace. Gaikwad might just prove to be the right guy to bat at 3.
Gaikwad has generally played as an opener and is used to batting at the top. This doesn&#8217;t mean that he can&#8217;t bat at 3 as he has the technique as well as the skills to do so. Gaikwad had impressed Dhoni during CSK&#8217;s brief practice in Chennai before the squad flew to Dubai. Once he tests negative, he should resume training from September 10 and could be CSK&#8217;S number 3 batsman this season.

<h3>3) Faf Du Plessis</h3>
<figure id="attachment_340712" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-340712" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-340712" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Faf-du-Plessis-1.jpg" alt="Faf du Plessis Chennai Super Kings" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-340712" class="wp-caption-text">Faf du Plessis. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
The former South Africa captain has a batting average of 36 at a strike rate of 135 at 3 while batting for SA in T20Is. His ODI batting average at 3 is a whooping 55 at a strike rate of 88. This means that he can very well bat at 3 and has a lot of experience batting at that position. Arguably one of the best batsmen of the generation, Faf is someone who would need to be at his best this season if CSK are to have a good season this time around.
Faf has been batting at the top for CSK for the past 2 seasons. He has been fairly successful as well. He has a batting average of 33 and a strike rate of 127 while batting in the top 3 for CSK in the IPL. Another important point to consider is the experience which Faf possesses.
Having been SA&#8217;s best T20I batsman for a while now, he stands as one of the top contenders to bat at 3 for CSK this season. Faf has been one of CSK&#8217;S most trusted overseas players as he was with the team even before becoming a regular for SA. Faf is a vital cog for the Yellow Army and thus has a good chance to bat at 3 as they would want someone who could anchor the innings. Besides, he&#8217;s one of the few CSK batsman who is still active in international cricket.

Mind you, Raina is CSK's all-time leading run-scorer!

IPL 2020: 3 Players who can bat at No.3 for CSK after Suresh Raina's departure

Suresh Raina has been one of the greatest players in the history of IPL. He is the only batsman in the history of the tournament