The year 2020 was nightmarish for three-time Indian T20 winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) who failed to make it to the knockouts of any Indian T20 tournament — in which they have been a part of — for the first time ever. Not only they failed to go through to the business end of the tournament, they also finished at the bottom of the points table which was certainly a great degree of embarrassment giving the riches, reputation and aura which Chennai Super Kings carry.
But they are not a team to be bogged down by any obstacle. In Indian T20 2020, CSKs’ batting looked outdated and out of sorts with the team failing to put up any score of significance while also struggling with the ball simultaneously.
It was feared that Chennai Super Kings were finally past their best and what lay ahead was revamp of team full of players heading towards overall retirement and rejuvenation. This was also the same season in which Delhi Capitals, among the poorly-performing teams, made a stunning comeback after making an overall revamp of their side on the back of young and exciting players.
Chennai Super Kings came roaring back with the same set of players but with a different approach which served them extremely well, with their juggernaut coming to an abrupt halt owing to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in India. Now, with the second leg of Indian T20 2021 tournament set to begin in the United Arab Emirates, Chennai Super Kings face a stern challenge of proving that they have made overall progress with their cricket and prove that they would not struggle the way did it last time in the UAE (Indian T20 2020 was held here).
CSK’s recap of Indian T20 2021 first leg
Chennai Super Kings finished the first leg of Indian T20 2021 at the second position in the points table behind Delhi Capitals. CSK played seven matches from which they garnered 10 points having won five and lost two. Among these two defeats was the one against their arch-rivals Mumbai Indians, a game in which Kieron Pollard turned tables around spectacularly with a breathtaking knock to hand CSK a defeat despite them scoring 218/4 while batting first.
Former South Africa cricketer and captain Faf du Plessis was the leading run scorer for Chennai Super Kings in the first leg of Indian T20 2021 with 320 runs in seven matches with an unbeaten of 95 being his highest and an average of 64. He formed a crucial opening partnership with the young Indian opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad, while the others in Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina playing their roles to perfection in Chennai Super Kings strategy of playing aggressively with the bat. While Mahendra Singh Dhoni did not fire the way he is known for, it will only be the icing on the cake if Dhoni finds his mojo lower down in the batting order in the UAE.
Sam Curran has been a vital cog in the Chennai Super Kings line-up with the English all-rounder taking nine wickets in seven matches and Deepak Chahar grabbing eight.
Changes in the squad ahead of Indian T20 2021 second leg
Chennai Super Kings are not the team to make too much of chopping and changes. They have had almost a similar squad over all these years and it has remained same even for the second leg of Indian T20 2021 with only one change to the side.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood did not travel to India for the first leg owing to the coronavirus pandemic and his own workload, but the lanky fast bowler, known for his precision and control is back into the team for CSK in the place of another Australian in Jason Behrendorff. This is the only change which CSK have in their squad leading to the UAE leg of Indian T20 2021.
Players to watch out for in Indian T20 2021 second leg
Faf du Plessis gave plenty of signals in the first leg in India that he was enjoying his cricket — as an opening batsman for CSK and an excellent fielder particularly near the boundary ropes. Du Plessis met plenty of runs for CSK in India and he will be required and expected to carry on in the same passion when the second leg of Indian T20 2021 which starts on September 21. Additionally, it will be imperative for du Plessis to fire from the first match itself given that it is against Mumbai Indians on September 19.
Du Plessis was the star performer for CSK in the first edition of this years Indian T20 but he was not alone. The others in Gaikwad, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu and even Ravindra Jadeja to a great extent proved to be invaluable for the side, which can also be said for England all-rounder Sam Curran. If there was anything left was big and quick runs from the bat of MS Dhoni, who will be expected to fire and keep his team on the top in the points table.
Expectations from Chennai Super Kings in Indian T20 2021 second leg
What Chennai Super Kings were able to do this year in the Indian T20 was something that cannot be expected from other teams — it requires a lot of character and discipline. CSK not only revived and refurbished their approach but also ensured that their plans were followed to the T. Chennai Super Kings batsman batted with ease, with control, with a clear plan and most importantly, with a fearless approach which helped them turn their fortunes around after a disappointing season last year.
CSK have some really exciting players in Gaikwad, Jadeja, Curran, Dwayne Bravo and even Deepak Chahar, who has shown his mettle with the bat recently during India’s tour of Sri Lanka. CSK also have an experienced tank consisting the likes of Du Plessis, Dhoni, Raina, Rayudu, Moeen and even Hazlewood, who has been a vital cog in the famed Australian fast bowling line-up.
Devarchit Varma is a cricket writer and journalist with an experience of more than a decade, having worked at Hindustan Times (newspaper) and CricketCountry (website). Along with covering international and domestic cricket, he has also interviewed several current and former top players such as Rohit Sharma, Steve Smith, Dale Steyn, Michael Hussey, Jacques Kallis, Brendon McCullum, Shane Watson, Lasith Malinga and many more. He has also worked in other beats as a journalist in Bollywood (Reliance BigOye) and IT (SiliconIndia) industries.
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