IPL 2019: 3 underrated players who can help CSK in retaining the title
The 12th edition of Indian Premier League - IPL 2019 - will kick off on March 23 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Chennai Super Kings has been one of the most celebrated teams of the IPL, with a huge fan base spread all across the country. Last year, returning to IPL after a ban of 2 years, CSK showed no rust and eventually lifted the trophy for the 3rd time.
This year, barring Mark Wood, CSK have retained all their players from last season. MS Dhoni will continue to lead the side whereas Stephen Fleming, their coach, will direct it.
The batting will revolve around Suresh Raina, Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni, while the bowling lineup's heart rests in the spin department. The presence of Shane Watson and Dwayne Bravo grants them multifaceted players which are the soul of a T20 side.
On that note, let us look at 3 underrated players who can help CSK in retaining the trophy.
1. Faf du Plessis
South African captain Faf du Plessis has been one of the most consistent performers for Chennai Super Kings in IPL. Batting at the top, Du Plessis' role is to anchor the innings which allows the likes of Watson, Raina and Dhoni to play their natural game.
In 43 T20 matches Du Plessis' runs have come at an impressive strike-rate of 136.52, and his highest score is 119. Du Plessis’s ability to bat both at the top and in the middle-order will render flexibility to the CSK squad. Also, being an experienced member of the team means that Du Plessis will assist the management in taking important decisions.
His recent noteworthy performances include 78 off 45 balls against Pakistan’s dynamic bowling attack, which set up a 6-run victory for the Proteas. The underrated Du Plessis will be one of the keys in CSK's bid to defend their title.