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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction witnessed all ten teams bolstering areas they deemed necessary to address. While some teams relied on their core from the previous year, others opted to initiate a reset with significant new signings. As the tournament approaches, each team has devised strategies tailored to their specific needs and objectives.
Opening partnerships crucial in Modern T20
Given the critical importance of powerful batting in the modern T20 game, every team will prioritize solidifying their opening partnership. While most teams may stick with what worked for them last year, there are exceptions such as defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Unfortunately, they will need to adjust their opening combination due to a major setback caused by the injury to attacking batter Devon Conway.
Absence of Devon Conway
Conway’s impact over the last two years alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad for CSK has been truly profound. Their partnership has flourished, amassing an impressive 1208 runs in just 22 innings, with an average of 54.9 and a striking rate of 150.4. Notably, they also achieved the franchise’s best-ever partnership at the top of the order, scoring 182 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2022 edition of the IPL. Their presence at the crease brings a sense of calmness to the dressing room and the fans. However, ahead of the 2024 IPL, this tranquility was disrupted by Conway’s injury, which has ruled him out of the tournament until May.
Also READ: Chennai Super Kings (CSK)’s best playing XI for IPL 2024
Harsha Bhogle names a potential opening pair for CSK
Ahead of the upcoming season, speaking on Cricbuzz show, cricket analyst Harsha Bhogle has suggested his choice for Gaikwad’s opening partner in the absence of Conway. Despite their differences in experience and playing style, Bhogle believed there is a suitable replacement in Rachin Ravindra. Expressing his confidence in Ravindra’s abilities, Bhogle highlighted his impressive performance in white-ball cricket and even noted his recent century in Test cricket. With Ravindra flourishing in the conducive environment at CSK, Bhogle advocated for pairing him with Gaikwad as CSK’s opening combination for the IPL 2024 season.
“In the absence of Conway, there is, what I believe, a like-for-like replacement even though they are vastly different in terms of year and experience. I won’t be surprised at all if, in CSK, Rachin Ravindra comes out and tells the IPL, ‘Come look at me,’ because he has done very well in white-ball cricket. He has gone up and got 100 in Test match cricket. He’s playing the best cricket of his life, and he’s playing in a wonderful environment at CSK. So, my opening combination would be Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra,” Bhogle said.
CSK’s IPL 2024 campaign begins
Defending champions CSK will kick off their IPL 2024 campaign against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 22. As they embark on their title defense, CSK will aim to overcome the setback of Conway’s absence and maintain their legacy of success in the tournament.
