IPL 2020: 5 Changes CSK should make before their next match against SRH

After defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) in the season opener, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have failed to derive much advantage out of their early success. Their last two matches against Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) were fairly one-sided with the yellow army looking completely out of touch. Except Faf Du Plessis and Sam Curran, every other Super King was off-colour in these two games.

Perhaps the absence of their 2018 campaign’s star performer Ambati Rayudu was too much to handle for the Super Kings as their batting line-up failed to get going in both the matches. Against the Royals, Faf was the only batsman who managed to stick around as rest of the batsmen fell prey to Tewatia and Gopal’s wily leg-breaks. In the next match, an inspired Delhi’s bowling line-up breathed fire and didn’t allow any batsman to dominate them at any part of the innings.

The men in yellow, popular for their come-from-behind wins, looked completely out of sorts in the last two matches. Also, fans were left fuming when MS Dhoni demoted himself down to the lower order and allowed the likes of Kedar Jadhav and Ravindra Jadeja to bat before him. Thus, it is high time that Chennai starts making some changes in their combination.

In this article, we will look at 5 changes which CSK management might make before their next match: –

1. Gaikwad and Faf to open the innings

One of the major things which have plagued CSK since the tournament opener is the below-par performance of the openers. Watson often throws his wicket away after a good start whereas Murali Vijay hardly gets to start his innings. The consumption of a lot of deliveries by the openers in turn puts pressure on the middle order.

Thus, it would be logical to revamp the opening combination. Du Plessis has been CSK’s top performer in these 3 matches and had tasted a lot of success as an opener last year also. He takes a bit of time to get used to the pitch and rapidly shifts gears afterwards. Thus, he would be an appropriate choice to open the innings.

Gaikwad, on the other hand, hasn’t done much in these two matches but perhaps it would be too harsh to judge him in such a scenario. In both matches, he came in to bat when the team was under a lot of pressure and he was batting in an unfamiliar position. Gaikwad is naturally an opener and it would be fair to give him a go to play at his favoured position before making a decision to drop him.

2. Rayudu in for Murali Vijay

In the post-match presentation after the game against Capitals, Dhoni indicated that there is a high probability that Rayudu would be fit for the next match. Thus, a change in the playing 11 would become necessary. It makes sense to drop the least impressive player and clearly, Vijay hasn’t done anything in these three matches to justify his inclusion as an opener.

Failure to get going is one thing, but the lack of intent shown by Vijay in these matches has earned him a lot of flak from the fans. Dropping Vijay would mean Ruturaj Gaikwad would manage to keep his place in the CSK playing XI. Backing Gaikwad, a young talent makes much more sense than supporting Vijay, a batsman whose last significant contribution came in the finals of the fourth edition.

Rayudu’s unfortunate injury was a reality-check for the Super kings as they fell apart in the absence of glue which sticks them together. Comeback of Rayudu would bring a sigh of relief to the fans who have been longing to watch CSK dominate a match with their batting. Thus, inclusion of Rayudu as soon as he is match-fit would be a no-brainer.

3. Dwayne Bravo in for Shane Watson

According to Stephen Fleming, Bravo is also making quick recovery and should be adequately fit by the time players take field in their next match. Ever since his inclusion in 2011, Bravo has been a vital cog in the wheel for the super kings. His death bowling as well as late-over pyrotechnics is what Chennai have missed in their last two matches.

Impressive performances from Sam Curran and Faf Du Plessis coupled with the importance of keeping a reliable overseas pacer would mean the Australian batsman would have to make way for Bravo’s inclusion in the XI. Watson’s performance till now has been below-par and with him being on the higher spectrum in terms of age, he doesn’t have a lot going on for him to retain his place in the starting 11. In such a situation, Watson may be able to make much more contributions by acting as a mentor rather than playing himself.

Bravo’s inclusion drastically improves the side’s batting, bowling and fielding strength. He often takes the pace off the ball, which can work to his advantage in the Emirates. His clever bowling in the last overs and more than reliable batting is expected to provide required support to other players.

4. Promotion of Dhoni up the order

Perhaps the thing about which the fans and experts have been ruing the most is Dhoni’s batting position. In all the matches, Dhoni sent many players in to bat before him rather than coming in at his usual No. 5 position. The implications of him coming in to bat too late in the innings have been widely discussed too.

The captain may have been trying to present better opportunities to younger players in order to groom them for the next editions. However, the point of the matter is that his approach has failed to yield desired results. Sending Curran in as a pinch-hitter to take on the elder Pandya worked against Mumbai, however against Rajasthan, the leggies became too hot to handle for him.

Dhoni may take a few balls to get used to the conditions; however as soon as he gets the hang of the wicket, he goes on an absolute carnage. The man who single-handedly carried his team’s batting the last season has been under-utilising himself this year. The plight of CSK’s batting may change significantly if Dhoni moves a couple of places up the order.

5. Karn Sharma to replace Kedar Jadhav

Next to Murali Vijay, Kedar Jadhav has been another player who has turned up with disappointing performances in the last two matches. Sent in to bat before Dhoni on both occasions, the right-hander failed to utilise the time given to him and threw his wicket away just as the innings gained some momentum. He has not been able find gaps and hardly lofts the ball to clear the inner circle.

Karn Sharma has been the golden boy for many franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. He scores useful runs in the end and can also pick up valuable wickets with the ball. He is a much more explosive batsman than Jadhav and can significantly improve the strength of the lower order.

In the bowling department, he can provide support to Piyush Chawla and act as a curbing force in case his senior partner goes for runs. Thus, inclusion of Sharma in the team might lead to a change in fortunes for the Yellow Army.