Chennai Super Kings have had a troublesome campaign this season. When everyone was foreseeing the team to do fine, CSK frustrated their admirers with dull displays.
For the first time ever, CSK failed to make it to the playoffs this campaign. Adding to the wound, the team has also been handed a wooden-spoon this edition. Nevertheless, in the recent games, the franchise has shown fearlessness and intent, something that it has always been popular for.
Although it has been a forgettable season, CSK can still look forth to the future seasons. There are a few positives from IPL 2020, and MSD and co. will have to build on it to put up a better show next year. On that note, here are five positives CSK can take away from IPL 2020.
1. Law Of Averages Out Of Equation
Chennai Super Kings had reached playoffs every time it had taken part in the competition. Such consistency is absent in every other team in IPL. However, in any sport, successes and failures are bound to come together. For CSK, the lesson came this season. However, from now on, they need not worry about the law of averages. The constant pressure of reaching the playoffs could lessen, thereby giving them a better opportunity to be fearless on the field. At least, with regards to reaching the top-4, CSK can now play without having the expectations of their fans to maintain a ‘record’. This, we feel, will actually help CSK in the coming campaigns.
2. A Timely Message To The Management
In one of the interviews, CSK coach Stephen Fleming revealed that they had strategized their buys at the auctions with the intention to win 5-6 games at Chepauk. Well, for a team as big as CSK, this could be a wrong approach. CSK is expected to do well across conditions, and for the management, IPL 2020 will serve as a timely message. Hereon, they would just not be able to go with a singular strategy into a season. The management will be forced to assemble a squad that is balanced and can work fine on any pitch. Of course, this would help in the overall well-roundedness of the team.
3. An Opportunity To Start Afresh
Ever since CSK’s comeback to IPL in 2018, the franchise has not been short of criticism. A major chunk of these comments was regarding the age of the squad and the inability to develop young players. Although the squad shut the criticizers down with their showings, in 2020, the comments were back again. This time around, this aspect of the team actually led to the downfall of the franchise. Hence, a wooden-spoon show means that CSK can now start afresh. A wounded lion can be dangerous, and teams must be wary of the ‘yellow squad’ in 2021 for the very same reason.
4. Youngsters Stepping Up
CSK finally has a few youngsters who can turn the tide and win games for them. At the top of the list is the young English all-rounder Sam Curran. The kid has been putting up brilliant performances and has been the main reason for the fans’ optimism this season. While Curran will surely be a part of CSK’s core for a few more seasons, in recent games, Ruturaj Gaikwad has joined the party as well. The Maharashtra batsman has shown his class, and he could very well take up the opening slot in the coming season. N Jagadeesan has also looked good and has offered promise. These three boys will have a bigger role to perform in 2021.
5. Ravindra Jadeja’s Finishing Abilities
With MS Dhoni out of touch, and the likes of Kedar Jadhav and Dwayne Bravo looking uncomfortable, CSK’s death-batting was looking weakened. Nevertheless, Ravindra Jadeja stepped up on multiple occasions to solve the issue. While his bowling form may have dwindled, it is absolutely phenomenal of Jaddu to contribute somehow to the team’s cause. With his displays this season, CSK may have found a reliable option at No.6 or No.7 for the coming seasons. Also, Jadeja happens to one of the seniormost members of the squad and might not be a bad captaincy option if MSD decides to quit IPL.
