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The forthcoming 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) promises to captivate the cricketing world with its exhilarating spectacle. Among the roster of teams, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), led by the iconic MS Dhoni, stand as a beacon of admiration among fans. Their adoration isn’t merely for the emotional connection with Dhoni but also stems from their illustrious track record in the tournament, securing a record number of titles, matching the accolades of the Mumbai Indians (MI) at five.
Chennai Super Kings: Ambitions and challenges
As they embark on this season’s journey, their ambition will be to elevate their championship tally from five to six. Yet, this quest is fraught with challenges, primarily due to a string of injuries plaguing their overseas players like Matheesha Pathirana, Mustafizur Rahman and the pivotal absence of Devon Conway, sidelined until May, which dealt a significant blow to the team.
Impact of Devon Conway’s absence and partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad
Conway’s injury posed a formidable hurdle for CSK as they seek to defend their IPL title, with the season slated to commence on March 22. The absence of the New Zealand batter, who played a pivotal role in CSK’s victorious campaign last year, accumulating an impressive 672 runs in 15 innings at an average of 51.69 and a strike rate of 139.82, is sorely felt.
His formidable partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top was instrumental in CSK’s success. The impact of Conway alongside Ruturaj over the past two years has been remarkable, with their partnership flourishing, accumulating an impressive 1208 runs in just 22 innings, boasting an average of 54.9 and a strike rate of 150.4.
Also READ: IPL 2024: Harsha Bhogle selects the opening pair for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Potential replacements for Conway by Michael Hussey
Michael Hussey, former CSK opener and current batting coach, believed the team has viable options in New Zealand’s emerging batting sensation Rachin Ravindra or India’s veteran player Ajinkya Rahane to fill the opening slot alongside Ruturaj.
“We’ve got Rachin Ravindra, who’s coming in, who plays a similar style to Devon Conway, There are other options as well. Ajinkya Rahane played so well last year. He could also move up the order,” Hussey was quoted as saying by the Sportskeeda.
Ravindra showcased his prowess in the recent ODI World Cup in India, dominating opposition bowlers with his stellar performances. He provides the necessary left-arm combination at the top and can also contribute with his left-arm spin bowling skills. Meanwhile, Rahane, a seasoned campaigner, brings a wealth of experience from his successful stints opening for previous franchises like Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL.
Final decision
Hussey underscored that the final decision rests with coach Stephen Fleming and captain Dhoni. Chennai are set to commence their campaign against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the tournament’s opener on March 22,
“So, I’m not sure which way the captain and the coach want to go at this stage. But, as I said, I think we’ve got enough depth to be able to cover it in certain ways,” the 48-year-old concluded.
