IPL 2018: How MS Dhoni's men may lineup on their return
Chennai Super Kings will return to the IPL fold in 2018 after a two-year suspension. CSK have the largest fan-base in the IPL, and a quick glance at the result table would explain much of it. The Super Kings have reached the finals in 6 of their 8 attempts, have been crowned champions twice (2010, 2011), runner-up on four separate occasions (2008, 2012, 2013, 2015) and lost at the semi-final stage on the other two occasions (2009, 2014).
CSK retained MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja from their 2015 squad, and had a budget of ₹ 47 crores going to the mega-auction. CSK were criticized heavily for their auction strategy; one which saw them buy a whole host of players who are at the fag end of their careers such as Shane Watson, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir etc.
A look at the CSK squad makes it that clear that a reboot would be required in a couple of years, but it would be foolhardy to write CSK off in this year's competition.
Nobody understands the T20 game better than the duo of Stephen Fleming and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and it should come as no surprise if the two manage to weave their magic once again.
For all the consistency talk around CSK, it is worth noting that CSK have not won the IPL title since 2011, and would be itching to get their hands on the trophy again.
The biggest challenge for any team is to get the playing combination right, and while there is still some time to find out what the management decides, it is never a bad time to make one's own pick.
Following is a look at what the best XI for the fan favourites could look like:
#1 Shane Watson (Australia): All-Rounder
Shane Watson is arguably the greatest T20 cricketer, and his IPL feats are reflective of that. Watson has been Man of the Tournament on two separate occasions and is capable of winning the match with both bat and ball on any given day.
Over the past couple of years, Watson's form has been very patchy, and a massive reason for that has been the constant shuffle in his batting position. Watson thrives at the top of the order and if CSK is to have any success in this year's IPL, Shane Watson needs to be opening the batting.
The Chennai surface would suit Watson's playing style very well. He can tonk the spinners from the crease, and his bowling becomes all the more effective on a sluggish surface.
Shane Watson has had a fantastic PSL and would love to carry that form in the IPL as well. Watson is on his last legs as a professional cricketer, and would love to go out on a high in the IPL; a tournament that has shaped his career more than anything else.
IPL Record:
Matches: 101, Runs: 2620, Average: 31.57, Strike-Rate: 138.77, 100/50: 2/14.
Wickets: 85, Average: 28.21.