IPL 2018: 5 areas of concern that Chennai Superkings needs to overcome to win against Royal Challengers Bangalore
Though Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are returning into the IPL fold after a nearly two-year hiatus, it doesn’t seem like they have lost their old habits.
They are still led by their iconic son of non-soil, MS Dhoni who has almost ensured another top-four finish for his team after the league stage and they still are a batting heavy team with a comparatively weaker bowling attack like previous years.
They are currently placed at the second spot in the points table with 12 points from nine games and are up against Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore next, who have so far accumulated six points from their eight games and are struggling in the bottom half of the table.
Chennai are coming into this clash after a six-wicket blip against Kolkata Knight Riders in their last game.
The defeat against Kolkata gives us an opportunity to decode five areas of concern that CSK needs to address to win over an inspired Royal Challengers Bangalore in Pune-
#1 David Willey instead of Dwayne Bravo
Bravo started the IPL with a bang when he clobbered the Mumbai Indians bowling attack in the season opener to hand his team an improbable final over victory.
But since then he has not been able to live up to his own lofty standards. He has so far taken just seven wickets from nine games at an extravagant economy of 10.26 runs per over.
He is clearly looking far from his best in the bowling department with batsmen able to regularly pick his slower balls.
It is about time for Chennai to bring in the English all-rounder, David Willey into the playing XI.
Willey’s inclusion will prove beneficial on two counts- while he can be used as a floater in the batting order with Perth Scorchers even using him in the top order in Big Bash League, his bowling credentials are well established with a prized ability to bowl in the death.
His left-handed bowling will lend great diversity to CSK's bowling arsenal.