Chennai Super Kings has been the most consistent team in the Indian Premier League history. The Super Kings have a unique record to their name and that is to qualify for the second round in every season that they played. However, that record seems to be under threat this year because the MS Dhoni-led outfit has not had the best of the starts to its IPL 2020 campaign.
The Chennai-based franchise lost to Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals in their last two matches. The defeats were by big margins, which is why the team’s fans are concerned about the balance of the squad in 2020. The team already suffered a massive loss when their all-time highest run-scorer Suresh Raina opted out of the entire season. Raina was expected to make it big in IPL 2020 because it was his first season after international cricket retirement, but because of some personal reasons, the southpaw skipped the tournament.
Chennai Super Kings, unfortunately, do not have many options available on the bench. Here are the six benched players of other squads who could fit properly in CSK’s playing XI.
1.Mitchell McClenaghan
Kiwi fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan was expected to play a marquee role for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020. The main reason behind it was Lasith Malinga’s absence.
However, the defending champions have preferred James Pattinson and Trent Boult ahead of McCelnaghan. Chennai need a left-arm pacer and McClenaghan would walk into their XI instead of Hazlewood.
2.Rahul Tripathi
With Suresh Raina unavailable and Murali Vijay out of form, Chennai needed a solid Indian top order batsman to play well in the powerplay. A player like Rahul Tripathi could have solved CSK’s problems.
MS Dhoni had played with him at Rising Pune Supergiant. He knows Tripathi’s strengths and could have used him if he was not warming the benches for KKR.
3.Krishnappa Gowtham
Kings XI Punjab coach Anil Kumble has preferred to pick leg-spinners in the playing XI. He dropped all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham to give a place to Murugan Ashwin.
Gowtham can provide a solid spin-bowling all-rounder option to other teams, especially Chennai Super Kings. He could take Kedar Jadhav’s place in the XI.
4.Chris Lynn
As mentioned ahead, Chennai Super Kings are facing issues in the top order this year. Barring Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu, no other batsman has fired in this season.
Chennai could have afforded to drop an overseas pacer for a batsman if they had an option like Chris Lynn. Unfortunately, Lynn is at Mumbai Indians, warming the benches.
5.Kartik Tyagi
India U-19 star Kartik Tyagi is a part of the Rajasthan Royals squad. The inaugural IPL winners have went for Jaydev Unadkat, Tom Curran, and Ankit Rajpoot’s services ahead of Tyagi.
Chennai need a solid Indian fast bowling option who can back Deepak Chahar. Kartik could have played that role if CSK had signed him in the auction.
