Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have done exceptionally well in this year’s IPL. After having a rather forgettable show last year in the UAE, they bounced back with a bang and impressed everyone, including former India captain, Sunil Gavaskar. Notably, last year CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs for the very first time but they returned to the top position this year as well.
However, they were in second place before the tournament was called off due to the rise of Covid-19 cases inside the bio-bubble. When the league was postponed, CSK had 5 wins in 7 matches in their name. Apart from that, with the best net run rate of +1.263, CSK has a great chance to reach the playoffs when the season resumes.
Deepak Chahar and Sam Curran did well with the ball while Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad were in sublime form. Moreover, the inclusion of Moeen Ali gave them the much-needed balance as well as not only with the ball but he performed well with the bat too while batting at number 3.
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“All the other teams were in top form with last year’s disappointing team, Chennai Super Kings, looking like the champion it usually had been all these years. There was a renewed energy about the team this time, though there were no major changes to its squad,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
However, he also applauded the move of CSK as they promote Moeen Ali at three as he believes that was a masterstroke. Ali scored 206 runs in six games as well.
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“The promotion of Moeen Ali to the top of the order at No. 3 turned out to be a masterstroke as the left-handed batsman produced some blistering innings. The seasoned Faf du Plessis was in cracking form, too, and, along with the promising Ruturaj Gaekwad, gave the team some top starts. Sam Curran continues to impress and improve with every game and bids fair to be considered a proper all-rounder now. It’s the final overs’ bowling that the side needs to strengthen as was evident in the match against Mumbai when, despite scoring 218, it lost the game off the last ball,” Gavaskar further added.
