IPL 2021, CSK SWOT Analysis: Last hurrah for MS Dhoni and his core

One poor season doesn't take the sheen off a champion side. The ever-consistent Chennai Super Kings (CSK) returned strong months after finishing seventh in the UAE last year. Had Kieron Pollard not pulled off a heist at Delhi, MS Dhoni’s yellow brigade would be the IPL 2021 table-toppers at the moment. 

They are still securely placed at the second spot with five wins from seven games.

Hurt that they didn't qualify for the Playoffs for the first time in their IPL chronicles, CSK were quick to fix their glitches in the mini-auction and roared back in style.

Though he will surely remain omnipresent in the Chennai yellows, it's unlikely that a 40-year-old Dhoni will be a part of the CSK setup as a player from next season, especially with the IPL mega-auction and retentions in sights. Will this be Dhoni and his core's moment to sign-off on a high?

CSK Squad: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ambati Rayudu (wk), Robin Uthappa (wk), Narayan Jagadeesan (wk), Suresh Raina, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir, Josh Hazlewood, Lungi Ngidi, Karn Sharma, Mitchell Santner, Sai Kishore, Harishankar Reddy, Cheteshwar Pujara, Krishnappa Gowtham, Hari Nishaanth, KM Asif, Jason Behrendorff, Bhagath Varma, Dwayne Bravo

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SWOT Analysis of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for IPL 2021

Strengths

The blend of experience and Dhoni’s leadership has been a guiding force for CSK. Add coach Stephen Fleming to the equation, and CSK prove the importance of tactics and blueprint to succeed. Not to forget, Dwayne Bravo’s presence in the leadership group. Once again, he led his side to CPL triumph this week.

The depth in their batting is another strong point. The return of Raina and the addition of Moeen Ali lends more stability to the unit. Them being left-handers also help in terms of balance. The side has a settled opening combination of Gaikwad and du Plessis. With Rayudu, Jadeja, Dhoni, Sam Curran, Thakur and Deepak Chahar to follow, they are a franchise that bats till 10. 

The depth in the batting has given the middle-order freedom to play freely in the middle-overs, something they have done very well this season. Jadeja has successfully transitioned into a finisher. Since IPL 2020, he has 363 runs at over 60, striking at 168. This season, he has been dismissed only once.

They also have good in-form backup batting options in Jagadeesan (averaged 73 at a strike rate of 141 in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21) and Uthappa (averaged 75.4 at a strike rate of 132 in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21).

Dhoni enjoys having bowling options. CSK have not only options but also a variety. They have Jadeja, Moeen, Tahir, Karn, Santner and Gowtham as good spin options; there are enough fast bowling options in Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Hazlewood, Ngidi and Sam Curran, with the latter bowling left-arm pace.

Hazlewood would be critical to CSK's plans this season, especially after the way he bowled on the dustbowls of Dhaka last month. His reputation as a T20 bowler has leapt in 2021, with 12 wickets at 16.75, at an economy rate of six and a half.

Weakness 

If Dhoni’s presence adds to the strength, his batting remains a weakness for the side. His struggles after his international retirement are visible, and numbers further prove that. Since IPL 2020, he has averaged just over 21 at a strike rate of 117. The case with Raina hasn't been too different. He has averaged 24 at a strike rate of 123 since IPl 2019.

Opportunities

Deepak Chahar and Thakur are two hurt men, missing out on a T20 World Cup berth. Named in the reserves, they would want the selectors to rethink when they finalise the members in October. Similarly, Ben Stokes’ absence has opened up a key all-rounder’s role for Moeen and Sam Curran. A good showing in the yellows will only boost their chance to enter the strong England XI.

In the first half of the last decade, Dhoni flaunted an invisible wand. From IPL to CLT20s, CSK made winning seem like a cakewalk. As a group, under Dhoni, this might be their final hurrah. An IPL win while exiting will be a deserving full-stop to Dhoni's legacy as a cricketer.

Threats

In 2020, injuries and the vanishing form of the key players in the UAE brought CSK down. With many of their players on the other side of 30, there's a risk for the same this season as many of them don't play international cricket, and boundaries are comparatively larger in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 

There are already injury concerns with du Plessis and Dwayne Bravo. If du Plessis remains unavailable for a longer duration, it may hamper the team’s balance. Also, with question marks over Dwayne Bravo’s fitness to bowl and Sam Curran’s unavailability due to quarantine, there’s an issue with death bowling.

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CSK’s likely starting XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo (till Sam Curran is available), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir/Josh Hazlewood

(Ambati Rayudu or Moeen Ali may open till Faf du Plessis completely recovers.)

CSK’s remaining fixtures

• Sunday, 19 September: CSK vs MI (Dubai)
• Friday, 24 September: CSK vs RCB (Sharjah)
• Sunday, 26 September: CSK vs KKR (Abu Dhabi)
• Thursday, 30 September: CSK vs SRH (Sharjah)
• Saturday, 2 October: CSK vs RR (Abu Dhabi)
• Monday, 4 October: CSK vs DC (Dubai)
• Thursday, 7 October: CSK vs PBKS (Dubai)