Table of Contents
In a thrilling IPL 2023 final held at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinched their fifth IPL title by defeating Gujarat Titans (GT). This victory allowed MS Dhoni & Co. to join Mumbai Indians (MI) as the only two franchises to have won the IPL title five times. Notably, all five of Chennai’s victories have come under the captaincy of Dhoni, who has a preference for experienced players in his squad.
Following the championship, one of Dhoni’s trusted teammates, Ambati Rayudu, made the decision to retire. Prior to the summit clash, Rayudu announced that he would retire after the conclusion of the tournament. Although it had been a disappointing season for Rayudu, he played a crucial cameo of 19 runs off 8 balls in the final, contributing to CSK’s path to victory. However, Rayudu will not be part of the Super Kings squad in the upcoming season, leaving a significant question mark regarding his replacement in the playing XI.
On that note, let’s have a look at three players who can replace Ambati Rayudu in CSK’s playing XI at IPL 2024:
1.) Shaik Rasheed
Considered as one of the most promising young batters in the country, Shaik Rasheed has gained significant recognition for his technical proficiency. Many experts, including former chief selector MSK Prasad, have identified him as a potential Test batsman for the future. Rasheed recently had his first taste of the IPL while representing the successful CSK in the recently concluded season.
At just 18 years old, he proved to be a valuable substitute fielder and frequently appeared as an impact substitute option throughout the IPL 2023. One of the standout moments was his sensational catch near the boundary rope against Punjab Kings (PBKS), grabbing headlines and reinforcing his potential as a future regular player. Despite being in the early stages of his career, Rasheed possesses a solid batting technique, particularly against spin, and as he further develops his power game, it is highly likely that he will become a household name and seamlessly fill the void left by Rayudu.
2.) Nishant Sindhu
Nishant Sindhu, the talented all-rounder, has the potential to succeed Ravindra Jadeja at CSK. However, his maturity and impressive ability to handle spin make him a viable option to replace Rayudu in the playing XI as well. Additionally, being a left-handed batter provides an added advantage that can be capitalized on. Although the current CSK lineup already boasts left-handed batters such as Devon Conway, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali and Jadeja, with the inclusion of Ben Stokes in their roster, Sindhu could still be considered for a middle-order role if circumstances align favorably.
Sindhu has shown promise in his early first-class career for Haryana, with three fifties and two centuries in 12 matches. As he continues to develop, his T20 statistics are expected to improve, and CSK could effectively harness his skills against spin, especially following their success in IPL 2023.
3.) Subhranshu Senapati
Subhranshu Senapati grabbed the spotlight during Qualifier 1 between CSK and GT in Chennai. Although he was on the field as a substitute fielder, a viral video captured MS Dhoni advising him to remain calm and composed, which was followed by an impressive direct hit that dismissed Darshan Nalkande.
Senapati has been a regular substitute fielder for the Super Kings over the past two seasons, despite not yet having the opportunity to feature in an actual game. However, with Rayudu’s retirement in IPL 2023, the right-handed middle-order batsman might finally have a chance to make his mark.
Although Senapati holds a healthy average of 30.25 in T20 cricket, his strike-rate is just below 120. It would be ideal for him to work on improving this aspect, considering the potential role he could be assigned following Rayudu’s departure.
