Chennai Super Kings
Analysis by Vaibhav Tripathi
Three gun batters
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, and Daryl Mitchell: While Gaikwad and Conway have shown remarkable consistency in the last two years opening the batting, Mitchell’s addition further strengthened the team’s batting. After Ambati Rayudu’s retirement, they needed someone in the middle order, and they got a player of Mitchell’s calibre who can play pace and spin equally well. Coach Stephen Fleming described Mitchell as the ‘key buy’ for them. All of these batters have different gears to their game, and they possess the ability to adapt to different conditions.
Middle/Lower-order Finisher
The CSK batting line-up has a soft underbelly with a lack of out-and-out finishers who can turn the game on its head when the asking-rate climbs. At 42, MS Dhoni is not the same batter he was a few years back. The onus lies on Ravindra Jadeja, who is the most experienced player after Dhoni. To address this issue, they’ve bolstered their options with Sameer Rizvi, an explosive right-hand batter who has scored many runs in domestic tournaments. The 20-year-old is considered a pinch-hitter and had hit the most sixes in the first season of the UP T20 League. He has also played for India B in Under-19, which earned him a record sum of INR 8.40 crore.
New-ball bowlers
Deepak Chahar, Mukesh Choudhary, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman, and Maheesh Theekshana. If all these players are fit and available for selection, then this looks like a good new-ball attack. Yes, not as formidable as, say, the Mumbai Indians, where they’ve got Jasprit Bumrah and Jason Behrendorff in their ranks, but still, this new-ball attack has good variety in it that would succeed in most conditions.
Quality spinner(s)
CSK is always known to be a spin-heavy team. The five-time winners already have world-class spinners like Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Moeen Ali, and Theekshana. The addition of Rachin Ravindra gives them another good finger-spin option. But what about the wrist-spinners? Wrist-spinners are proven wicket-takers, especially in a format like T20. And CSK have only Prashant Solanki, a leg spinner who doesn’t feature regularly in the playing XI. Despite this, CSK looks like a formidable spin unit once again.
Death bowling
Death bowling has been a cause for concern for a number of years now. Last season, they relied a lot on Tushar Deshpande and Matheesha Pathirana. Although the gamble worked, the franchise was in search of snaffling up a quality death-over pacer of international reputation, and they bought Mustafizur. Shardul Thakur leaks a lot of runs, but he also takes wickets. Chahar will need to step up and take on the onus of bowling in the slog overs as well.
Captaincy
At the age of 42, Dhoni remains synonymous with tactical brilliance. Although his finishing prowess has diminished over the years, he still stands out as an astute captain, controlling things from behind the stumps. CSK are blessed to have Dhoni for one more season.
.@BLACKCAPS all-rounder @dazmitchell47 speaks on being picked up by @ChennaiIPL in the #IPL2024Auction.
Listen in👇@ThumsUpOfficial #DarylMitchell #iplauction2024 #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/D7vTWRZrOu
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) December 20, 2023
Gujarat Titans
Analysis by Ishaan Shahane
Three gun batters
Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Kane Williamson, Mr Dependable, would be three of the most crucial batsmen in the Titans set-up. Gill for the player he has transformed into and his track record at his home ground, Sudharsan for his recent form and Williamson due to the experience and class he brings into his game.
Middle/ Lower order finishers
David Miller would be leading the pack for the middle and lower order with his fantastic ball-striking ability. Rahul Tewatia will be expected to come up with some special knocks as well this season while Vijay Shankar would add that extra layer of stability. The new signing Sharukh Khan would be expected to go big in the final overs, being a specialist finisher on the domestic circuit.
New-ball bowlers
The experience of Umesh Yadav will come extremely handy with the new ball while the new recruitment of Spencer Johnson, the left-arm seamer, will be utilised to the fullest by the Titans to extract the best out of their seamers. However their main pace spearhead will be Mohammad Shami, who was in fantastic form during the World Cup.
Quality spinners
The Titans have arguably the best T20 spinner in their squad with Rashid Khan spinning them to victory in numerous matches in the past. Rashid will hold significant importance for this Titans bowling line-up and would be expected to perform nothing short of his best. Tewatia can be an extremely handy customer with the ball as well and the Titans would be relying heavily on him to deliver with both the bat and the ball.
Death bowling
Shami will take the responsibility upon himself to head the death bowling being the most experienced pacer of the side. Josh Little will be expected to bring the goods to the death bowling to add depth in the Titans bowling line-up.
Captaincy
With Hardik Panda leaving the Titans for the Mumbai Indians, the captaincy of Gujarat Titans now rests on the shoulders of Gill. This will be a new experience for Gill but one that can help in grooming himself as a future India captain. The pressure will be on Gill to replicate Hardik’s heroics with regards to captaincy in the coming season.
Also Read: How Shubham Dubey of Vidarbha got a Rs 5.8 deal from Rajasthan Royals in IPL auction
Delhi Capitals
Analysis by Bharath Ramaraj
Gun batters
David Warner: The opener, who led DC in the absence of Rishabh Pant last season, was the highest run-getter for the side with 516 runs, although his strike rate of 131.63 was on the lower side.
Harry Brook: The England batting sensation struggled in IPL 2023. Brook seemed to be premeditating too much during that course of that tournament. A change of franchise could just help his cause.
Mitchell Marsh: The explosive all-rounder has been smashing the bowlers to all parts of the ground across formats this year. The all-rounder is a mighty fine hitter against pace. In all likelihood, DC would welcome back their skipper, Rishabh Pant. Although there would be a question mark or two over his fitness.
Middle-order/Finisher
It could be Brook. In the ongoing ODI series against the West Indies, Brook cracked 31 off just 7 balls to power England to a memorable win in Grenada.
New-ball bowlers
Khaleel Ahmed and Anrich Nortje are two options, although the latter has been laid low by a back injury. Ishant Sharma’s ability to generate inswing and bowl leg-cutters upfront would also make him a candidate to take the new ball.
Quality spinner(s)
Axar Patel, known for keeping the runs down, is set to be Delhi’s bedrock in the spin department.
Death bowling
Mukesh Kumar has gained a reputation of bowling pinpointed yorkers in the slog overs. Nortje could be the other go-to bowler in the end overs.
Captain
If everything goes according to plan, Pant will be leading the franchise.
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