IPL 2018: 5 reasons why CSK might not win the title
We are just weeks away from one of the most famous events in the cricketing world, Indian Premier League (IPL). Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals are back, replacing Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant. With two titles, Chennai is one of the most successful franchises in IPL cricket.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is back to lead the team. Chennai retained Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja before the auction. They have also made some exciting buys in the auction, with Dwayne Bravo, Imran Tahir, Shane Watson, Murali Vijay, Mark Wood, and Harbhajan Singh set to play for the CSK in IPL 2018.
However, this team does not exactly look like a champion side. They are a lot of gaps in this current line-up. Stephen Fleming & Co. were not smart enough in the auction and made some poor signings. Also, they missed out on some key players, like Andrew Tye and Chris Woakes.
On that note, let's take a look at the reason why CSK won't win the IPL 2018.
#5 MSD’s diminishing hitting abilities
Dhoni isn’t the same demolisher who instilled fear in bowlers’ minds anymore. In the last few years, the swashbuckling wicket-keeper’s abilities have been questioned a lot as his big hitting seems to be on a downward curve.
The former Indian captain’s strike rate in the Indian Premier League 2017 was a poor 115, considering his strike rate was 163 and 149 in IPL 2013 and 2014 respectively. In IPL 2017, he has scored only 15 boundaries and 16 sixes in 16 matches.
He has a One Day International(ODI) strike rate of 84, which isn't great, given the nature of modern-day limited overs cricket and the position he generally bats.
On quite a few occasions, Dhoni’s inability to win games was exposed at the international arena. He failed to win a low scoring contest in West Indies, when he scored 54 in 114 balls, chasing a paltry 190. He was also slow in the ODIs against South Africa in the recently concluded ODI and T20 series.
This will certainly hamper CSK’s ability to finish games.