IPL 2021: Rating the bench strength of each team

Chennai Super Kings (8.5/10)

Probable Playing XI: Robin Uthappa, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suresh Raina, Moeen Ali, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir. 

Major Bench Strength Players: Cheteshwar Pujara, N Jagadeesan, R Sai Kishore, Mitchell Santner, K Gowtham, Karn Sharma, Dwayne Bravo.

Because of owing a plethora of all-rounders and a quality set of overseas players along with a robust Indian core, the CSK camp can go on a voyage in terms of making a winning playing XI. For opening the batting, the team can choose three genuine batters in the form of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, and Faf Du Plessis. To extend their company, someone like a Cheteshwar Pujara can be used at some point in the tournament. Also, the presence of Faf Du Plessis means that the South African can either partner with the above-mentioned openers or in contrast, can also bat a position lower.

For the next two slots, CSK can go with their traditional picks like Raina or Rayudu or even one of them can be paired with Moeen Ali. Further, for the number seven position and to give Dhoni and Jadeja an extensive company, CSK now has players like Mitchell Santner, Dwayne Bravo, K Gowtham, or even Sam Curran. And to even have an additional reserve in the middle-order, N Jagadeesan can be squeezed in the playing XI.

A tad of a similar ride is also visible in the bowling department, as one of the overseas pace specialists, apart from Sam Curran will surely be either Lungi Ngidi or Dwayne Bravo. Now although there isn’t any like-to-like replacement for Shardul Thakur and also for Deepak Chahar, the team might eventually make up with someone like KM Asif. Also, if CSK encounters some spinning tracks then along with Imran Tahir, there’s even  Karn Sharma who can be paired.

All in all, whether it’s batting or bowling, the CSK franchise is overflowing with resources. Also, with such a robust squad, the CSK fans would eventually demand an IPL glory for sure.