By Denzil Fernandes

Oct 8: Mighty performers in all the earlier editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are lying low in the current IPL being played in the United Arab Emirates. (UAE)

CSK has won 3 IPL titles in the past and been in the finals 8 times and has always qualified for the play-off stages of the tournament. Today, however, in the current situation the most successful team is cutting a sorry figure actually. CSK are in an unthinkable 5th position in the points table after losing 4 of their 6 matches so far among 8 teams. The overall show has shocked their stubborn supporters no end.

In fact, CSK had a sad start for their current campaign with some of their players and support staff testing positive for the dreaded coronavirus. To add to their woes, 2 of their main players withdrew from the squad due to ‘personal problems’. Highly rated batsman and utility spinner Suresh Raina and top spinner Harbhajan Singh withdrew from CSK at the last minute and it was a huge blow for captain Dhoni and his team.

Despite this, the CSK team looks good on paper, to say the least. They have a combination of experienced names like Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, Ngidi and Sam Curran from their international quota. Likewise, Jadeja, Rayudu, Chawla, Kedar Jadhav and Dhoni have all starred for India in the past. This is apart from promising lads like Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Karn, Asif, Sai Kishore and Rituraj Gaikwad.

Sadly, CSK has not been able to convert their paper strength on the field. One look at the players and you can certainly say that ‘Watto’ Watson is not having a good time in the IPL. In the first 4 matches, he had managed a ‘mere’ 52 runs only but recovered with half-centuries each in the 5th and 6th matches respectively. He has played for Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the earlier years and has loads of experience. Probably, one feels that ‘Watto’ is now at the end of his lucrative IPL days.

South Africa’s Faf du Plessis despite showing some electrifying reflexes on the field has yet to find his fluency in making runs. He is an important member in Dhoni’s plans. Bravo has just come back after an injury that kept him out of earlier matches. The most heartening aspect has been Sam Curran who has excelled for CSK. The 21-year-old all-rounder from England has shone with both bat and ball for CSK. The former India captain who retired from Indian cricket recently continues to play in the IPL but has been a shadow of his old self. Except for his keeping, his batting has not clicked yet. He has a reputation of being a great ‘finisher’ but is yet to record a good score. Whether he plays in next year’s IPL or not, he will surely continue his association with CSK for a longer time to come. His relations with the CSK owners will not allow him to go anywhere else.

We are not talking about Mahi’s cricket future but the current position of CSK in the IPL. The team is in a ‘do or die’ situation where every single match will be crucial. They have 8 more matches before the playoff stage and the stalwarts of the Chennai team have to rise to the occasion if they intend to give a winning farewell to their captain. Team coach Stephen Fleming is showing clear signs of desperation and restlessness which is unlike him. Given their rich and glorious past, CSK has surely fallen on bad times. Unless there is a reversal of their show with bat and ball, CSK will be on the losing side.

In the next IPL, the Chennai side has to undergo a huge change in their lineup. Dhoni apart, Du Plessis, Jadeja, Rayudu, Chahar, Sam Curran, Kedar Jadhav may still remain with CSK and fresh and younger talent will be picked to fill the remaining slots.

However, there is still enough light at the end of the tunnel. With such a great reservoir of experience, Dhoni’s boys can still pull it off and
at least qualify for the play-off stages. After that, it will be a pure case of touch and go. CSK has a great task on hand with aging legs against young blood from other teams, CSK can silence their critics with one good show after in all their remaining matches. There is no scope to slip up at all. One believes that Dhoni and his team have it in them to prevail during these tough times.

Will CSK perform the unthinkable?

Chennai Super Kings squad list for IPL 2020
M S Dhoni (captain), Ambati Rayudu, K Asif, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Jagadeesan Narayan, Karn Sharma, Kedar Jadhav, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Santner, Monu Singh, Murali Vijay, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shane Watson, Shardul Thakur, Josh Hazlewood, Piyush Chawla, R Sai Kishore, Sam Curran.