The 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will commence with the match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and defending champions Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Friday. After a disappointing 2022 season, where they finished ninth in the table with only 4 wins in 14 matches, MS Dhoni-led CSK will aim to make the most of their home conditions at Chepauk, as the tournament returns to its original home-away format after two years. However, before their opening match, an Australian cricket legend has pointed out a major weakness in the CSK squad.
Chennai Super Kings’ death bowling has been weakened due to injuries. The team had released Dwayne Bravo before the mini-auction in December, and young bowler Mukesh Choudhary has been ruled out of the entire IPL due to injury. Moreover, the team’s marquee all-rounder Ben Stokes, who was bought for INR 16.25 crore at the auction, is likely to begin as a specialist batter due to his knee injury, according to Mike Hussey, the Super Kings’ batting coach.
CSK’s three death bowling options remain in Dwaine Pretorius, spinner Maheesh Theekshana and replacement signee Sisanda Magala, fast bowler from South Africa.
Tom Moody, in conversation with ESPNCricinfo, opined that while at home CSK are sorted with 12 overs of spin on turning Chepauk conditions, death bowling will be a challenge when they travel outside Chennai. He hence feels that captain Dhoni will be making the most of the impact player rule in this matter to get the job done.
“No that is the big issue, their ability to shut teams down. I don’t think it will be the biggest issue at home because of what we have historically seen which is turning tracks. You can expect at least 12 overs of spin looking at their side with Theekshana, Jadeja and Moeen Ali. So when it is requring a death bowler in those conditions, it is harder to score in the back 10 overs than in the front 10 overs. At home they are okay, but it is when they travel, outside Chennai, which will be a challenge without any player who stands out in death bowling. What they could do is look to use that sub rule with the overseas player depending on whether they are batting or bowling first,” he said.
Chennai also have Deepak Chahar, although he is coming back from a long injury lay off. Moreover, he has an economy rate of 10.32 in the back four overs in T20s in the last two years.
