IPL 2022 – Best CSK playing 11 as seen by MS Dhoni

IPL 2022 – Best CSK playing 11 as seen by MS Dhoni

IPL 2022: MS Dhoni hands over captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja

Will IPL 2022 be the last for MS Dhoni as a Chennai Super Kings player? For the last three IPL seasons, every cricket fan – and even the casual fan – has been asking the same question. MS Dhoni, however, keeps going. And keeps going very well. The batting prowess has significantly waned but his glovework remains exemplary and captaincy unmatched. And now that he will not lead anymore, enjoy Dhoni for one more season.

The then CSK captain was one of four players retained by Chennai and one has come to expect that stability from them. The yellow brigade tend to maintain the same core group of players and believe in long term investments. Hence, there was no surprise to see CSK utilise the full quota of retentions available heading into the IPL 2022 mega auction.

Joining MS Dhoni in being kept out of the bidding list were opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, Indian all rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Englishman Moeen Ali, who perhaps feels more at home under Dhoni in the IPL than playing for his country. In terms of the pay scale, Dhoni came second behind Jadeja and he was followed by Moeen Ali.

Young Gaikwad came fourth and that shows exactly how much players want to play under MS Dhoni. For if he would have gone into the bidding pool, his price would have been much more than INR 6 crore.

IPL 2022 – CSK team analysis

Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo CSK
Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo will team up again in the IPL

A prime example of the mega auction augmenting price is Deepak Chahar. While talented and bringing batting ability at number 8, even Chahar would have been pleasantly surprised at the INR 14 crore price tag. That is as much a result of his skill as the economy of bowling all rounders. And given his ability, CSK will eagerly hope Chahar gets back to fitness soon.

In a similar mould, CSK also snapped up the recently concluded ICC U-19 World Cup winner Rajvardhan Hangargekar. Akin to Chahar, Hangargekar can strike a long ball while his primary skill lies with ball in hand.

The big surprise for CSK fans though will be the absence of Suresh Raina, who went unsold in the auction. There is no doubting the fact that Raina is not the same player who once lit up the IPL and even the player himself will admit to that. The shock, thus, was more out sentimental value and this franchise – like IPL trophies – possess sentiment in abundance.

That is probably why they successfully bid for Dwayne Bravo and went in for Faf du Plessis before RCB snapped him up. That gap will likely be filled by Devon Conway at the top of the order with Moeen Ali coming at number 3. Ambati Rayudu is likely to follow him.

Last season’s final hero Robin Uthappa will jostle with Shivam Dube for the number 5 spot. Dube is someone who will really enjoy playing with Dhoni. The former CSK captain is famed for bringing the best out of players – something his competitor Uthappa can attest to after forgettable seasons at KKR. There is a feeling around Indian cricket that Dube may come back into India reckoning now that he has Dhoni for guidance.

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Ravindra Jadeja is likely to follow and may even float higher in the batting order depending on game situation. The great advantage of an MS Dhoni team is its flexibility and it is extremely commendable how he still brings stability to a team. Dhoni himself will follow in the batting order – at least on paper.

Fit Chahar and Hangargekar may follow next. Knowing the franchise, they may take that early punt on the young all rounder, giving him time to find footing at this level. The ability of Jadeja and Moeen to bowl five to six overs between them gives CSK the luxury of testing waters.

CSK’s visible weakness is the pace bowling department. Josh Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi’s departures have not been taken the best care of. Adam Milne seems like the most likely replacement in that spot. That means Dwayne Bravo and Chris Jordan will contest for one place in the team. And they may well share the games given the phase at which Bravo’s career is, careful load management is necessary.

IPL 2022 – CSK predicted 11

MS Dhoni and Deepak Chahar
MS Dhoni will hope Deepak Chahar is fit as soon as possible

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja (C), MS Dhoni (WK), Deepak Chahar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwayne Bravo/Chris Jordan, Adam Milne.