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Cricket News: CSK IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Champions to go back-to-back? | CSK IPL 2022 Mega Auction Analysis: Did CSK have a good auction?

The IPL 2022 Mega Auction is behind us, and all 10 teams have picked a squad ahead of the new season. This auction was special as this time there were 10 teams instead of eight, with Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants being the two new sides.

Fans and pundits were quite keen to see how the four-time winners and defending champions Chennai Super Kings approached the auction. Dhoni and CSK are known for thinking out of the box or doing something that defies cricketing logic. Indeed, it has proved to be very fruitful for the franchise.

They did the same to an extent in this auction as well. CSK picked the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa and Dwayne Bravo who will form the core of the team at least for this year’s IPL alongside MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali. This was a little surprising as all the other sides tried to go for young players, but CSK decided to stick with their tried and tested “Dad’s Army”.

Also, there were some “un-CSK” like picks as well in the likes of U19 India star Rajvardhan Hangregkar, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Chris Jordan and Dwaine Pretorius. CSK are known for not going for fast bowlers who can bowl above 140 consistently but this time they went for Milne who does exactly that. Deshpande and Simarjeet can clock 140 as well. They also bought in Shivam Dube as a LHB spin power hitter in the middle-order.

Also, they picked a lot of unknown young faces in their squad. Leg spinner Prashant Solanki, all-rounder Bhagath Verma, and batters Subhranshu Senapati and Mukesh Choudhary are the new faces at CSK. Therefore, they have a good mixture of experience and youth whom they can groom under the leadership of MS Dhoni.

IPL Mega Auction: Chennai Super Kings Squad for IPL 2022

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

CSK’s Possible XI for IPL 2022

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Adam Milne, Tushar Deshpande/Rajvardhan Hangargekar

This XI has great batting depth and seven bowling options. Conway can play like Faf and be the aggressor in the powerplay. Plus, he plays spin well.

There is a lot of destruction in the middle with Moeen, Rayudu, and Dube. Jadeja will be the finisher assisted by Dhoni and Bravo. Chahar, Milne and Deshpande are more than handy with the bat, and can deliver with the ball.

CSK in the IPL Mega Auction: Key Strengths

1. Insane Batting Depth

The major change that CSK brought to their squad after the 2020 season was batting depth. Last season they built a squad that batted until number 11, resulting in a triumphant campaign. Batting depth allowed their batters to play freely and aggressively, especially in the middle-overs.

Despite losing Faf du Plessis, Shardul Thakur and Sam Curran this season, Dhoni has managed to keep that batting depth. The likes of Adam Milne and Tushar Deshpande are no mugs with the bat and one of them will bat at number 11 for CSK. Chris Jordan too is a proven hitter of the cricket ball.

CSK, in the worst case, will have batting until number 10 and it will be another season of super aggressiveness with willow in hand.

2. Lots of Bowling Options

Dhoni loves having a luxury of 6-7 bowlers in his side and this CSK squad has that. Apart from frontline bowlers such as Deepak Chahar and Adam Milne, the likes of Moeen Ali and Dwaine Pretorius can bowl four overs as well if required and Shivam Dube can provide a couple of overs with his medium bowling.

There is a good variety of bowlers as well. Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, Maheesh Theekshana, Mitchell Santner and Prashant Solanki form the spin department. Jadeja, Santner, and Moeen provide excellent control in the middle-overs while Theekshana with his mystery and Solanki with his leg-spin are attacking options.

Also, CSK always had a problem with their death bowling as they haven’t had a lot of high pace bowling options. Picking Adam Milne, Chris Jordan, Tushar Deshpande, and Simarjeet Singh looks to have solved that issue as well.

And, of course, Deepak Chahar is excellent with the new ball. So, overall it’s a complete bowling unit.

3. Experience

CSK have plenty of experience once again, which will hold them in good stead. Combine this with some young talent and MS Dhoni’s team will be one to watch once again.

Concerns

1. Vulnerability Against High Pace

While CSK has great batting depth, a number of them are vulnerable against high pace. Ruturaj, Rayudu, Dhoni, Bravo and even Moeen Ali have struggled against high pace and hard lengths. It will be a challenge for them as Devon Conway, Ravindra Jadeja alongside Uthappa can handle high pace of around 145-150.

It’s not as if they are completely clueless against it but it will be a challenge against teams with genuine pace. For example, CSK batters struggled a touch against Anrich Nortje and Avesh Khan last season. Teams can exploit this vulnerability by deploying high pace instead of spin in the middle-overs.

2. Over Reliance on Jadeja the “Finisher”

Jadeja has been exceptional as the finisher for CSK in the last couple of seasons. Since 2020, Jadeja averages 51.7 and strikes at a brilliant 195.7 in overs 16-20.

Jadeja is doing what Dhoni used to do in his prime form for CSK. However, it seems as if CSK are over-dependent on Jadeja for finishing duties. Dhoni is not who he used to be with the bat and it may be trouble for CSK if he’s out and the required run-rate is quite high. Dhoni showed in the first Qualifier of the last season that he still can finish games, but he lacks match practice. This could be decisive in close games.

There is an excellent mix of youth and experience under the leadership of their “Thalaivan”, who has defied all the cricketing logic and opinions from the experts in the last four years. This side has what it takes to lift the title for the fifth time under the leadership of MS Dhoni.

Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.