Dhoni lead CSK can win IPL 2021: Full Analysis

In this article, we will talk about stats of CSK at new home grounds and whether CSK has the chance to win the tournament with the squad they have. 

IPL 2021 is going to start from 9 April, 2021 in Chennai. But CSK is not going to play this match. No IPL team is going to play at its home ground. CSK will play all the 14 group stage matches at Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

SQUAD

MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, KM Asif, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Robin Uthappa, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, N Jagadeesan, Karn Sharma, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Sam Curran, Josh Hazlewood, R Sai Kishore, Krishnappa Gowtham, Moeen Ali, Cheteshwar Pujara, K Bhagath Varma, C Hari Nishaanth and M Harisankar Reddy.

 

Batsmen:  MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu, Faf du Plessis, N Jagadeesan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Cheteshwar Pujara, C Hari Nishaanth, Robin Uthappa

 

Fast bowling all rounders: Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Sam Curran

 

Spin bowling all rounders: Suresh Raina, Karn Sharma, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Krishnappa Gowtham, Moeen Ali, K Bhagath Varma

 

Fast bowlers: KM Asif, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Josh Hazlewood, M Harisankar Reddy

 

Spinners: Imran Tahir, R Sai Kishore

 

TEAM STRENGTH

1. FAST BOWLING

 

Overseas fast bowlers: Lungi Ngidi, Josh Hazlewood, Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo

 

With new ball in first innings, when pitch is fresh:

 

 

 

Stats say that Ngidi should open the bowling if CSK is looking for quick wickets.

 

In death overs:

 

 

 

Stats say that Ngidi should be bowling in the death overs for quick wickets. His economy rate is not bad as compared to other bowlers. 

 

As clear from the stats, Thakur should bowl only in middle overs.

2. SPIN BOWLING

Wrist spinners: Imran Tahir, Karn Sharma

 

On flat pitches and short grounds, finger spinners may not be effective.

 

In death overs:

 

 

 

Imran Tahir and Mitchell Santner can be used in death overs because they concede very less runs.

 

3. BATTING

 

Overseas batsmen: Faf du Plessis, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali, Mitchell Santner

 

In death overs:

 

 

 

Gowtham scores 42% of runs in sixes. He can be nurtured as a finisher.

 

VENUES

 

1. Mumbai

CSK is going to play 5 games in Mumbai. 3 home games and 2 away games

CSK batters in Mumbai:

One major reason behind success of Raina and Moeen Ali in Mumbai is lack of a wicket-taking off spinner in Mumbai Indians for so many years. Dhoni and Faf had their fair share of success as well while Pujara's strike rate in Mumbai is below 100.

CSK bowlers in Mumbai:

 

You should not be surprised to hear that finger spinners of CSK have the worst bowling strike rate in Mumbai (except Moeen Ali). This is the reason why Krunal Pandya has to throw medium pace at Wankhede and we rarely see a wicket taking finger spinner in Mumbai Indians squad. Bravo can be given rest and saved for rest of the tournament which is going to be played on high scoring venues.

Advantage: Ngidi, Hazlewood, Chahar and Curran are going to enjoy the pace and bounce of Mumbai. They also have a local player in Shardul Thakur.

Disadvantage: CSK has just 2 wrist spinners, whose records are brilliant in Mumbai, as opposed to 7 finger spinners. 

 

Best possible XI:  Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu / Robin Uthappa, Suresh Raina, Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir,  Lungi Ngidi 

 

2. Delhi

CSK is going to play 4 games in Delhi. 1 home game and 3 away games

CSK batters in Delhi:

All the left handers like Raina, Moeen Ali, Jadeja and Santner love this ground. Its a smaller ground and any mistimed shot can go for a six. We have seen Rishabh Pant enjoy a lot of success on this particular ground. Strike rate of du Plessis is in 90s at this ground and he can be given rest in a few games in Delhi phase of CSK for a left handed all-rounder like Curran who will be a handy extra bowling option on a smaller ground.

CSK bowlers in Delhi:

 

Only Ngidi, Bravo, Karn Sharma and Imran Tahir have managed to take more than 1 wicket in an inning on this ground. On this ground, you can't take advantage of the new ball. Death overs is best phase to take wickets.

Advantage: CSK has decent death bowlers in Bravo, Tahir and Ngidi. Old aged players can easily clear the boundary on this small ground.

Disadvantage: Wrist spinners are important on a flat pitch. CSK has just 2 wrist spinners, whose records are brilliant in Delhi, as opposed to 7 finger spinners. 

 

Best possible XI:  Faf du Plessis / Sam Curran, Ambati Rayudu / Robin Uthappa, Suresh Raina, Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir,  Lungi Ngidi 

 

3. Bangalore

CSK is going to play 3 games in Bangalore. 3 home games and 0 away games

CSK batters in Bangalore:

Dhoni, Raina and Uthappa have hit more than 30% of runs in sixes at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. Even Pujara has hit 35% of his runs at this ground in sixes. Rayudu has a very good record at this ground.

CSK bowlers in Bangalore:

 

You can expect spinners who turn the ball away to come into the game just after the high scoring powerplay. Swing bowlers are expected to try their best in first 2 overs as temperature in Bangalore is not high enough to make the surface completely dry. Imran Tahir is generally not used on this ground by CSK management. He has played just 2 games here taking 1 wicket. He can be given rest in Bangalore phase of CSK.

Advantage: CSK has strong six hitters like Gowtham, Dhoni, Raina and Uthappa. Old aged players can easily clear the boundary on this small ground. Local players like Uthappa and Gowtham can be useful

Disadvantage: CSK doesn't have a genuine fast bowler who can run in and take wickets in any condition.

 

Best possible XI:  Faf du Plessis, Robin Uthappa, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Krishnappa Gowtham, Sam Curran,  Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi

 

4. Kolkata

CSK is going to play 2 games in Kolkata. 0 home games and 2 away games

CSK batters in Kolkata:

Eden Gardens is one of the smallest grounds in India with a very flat pitch. Everyone except Faf du Plessis has a very good record at this ground. Its a batting paradise. In 2019, batting first team crossed 175+ in 6 out of 7 games.

CSK bowlers in Kolkata:

 

Its such a flat pitch that even wrist spinners like Kuldeep Yadav are unable to leave an impression. Bowlers who can bowl tight lines are expected to play in this phase.

Advantage: Old aged players can easily clear the boundary on this small ground. CSK has good finger spinners who can contain runs.

Disadvantage: CSK doesn't have a genuine fast bowler who can run in and take wickets in any condition. They have to settle with the spinners to contain runs.

 

Best possible XI:  Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu / Robin Uthappa, Suresh Raina, Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, R Sai Kishore, Imran Tahir

 

RECORD 

 

Win % of CSK on these venues:

Mumbai: 55%

Delhi: 75%

Bangalore: 50%

Kolkata: 46%

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