Keeping faith in their ‘Dad’s Army’, Chennai Super Kings had retained 22 of their 25 players from their season-winning campaign last for the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League. And almost halfway into the league stage, it’s more than safe to say that it wasn’t a bad decision.
Just like last year, MS Dhoni’s Men in Yellow have suffered just one loss in their first six matches of the season. While last season it was Kings XI Punjab that had defeated the three-time champions, this year the loss has come against Mumbai Indians.
But putting that aside, the defending champions have seemed invincible in the league so far. Here’s a look at five highlights from the CSK’s campaign.
1. Thala Still at the Wheel
What’s an IPL without CSK, and what’s CSK without MS Dhoni. Likely always, the skipper has been leading from the front, and behind the stumps, mostly in calm manner, but sometimes not.
Besides his accurate DRS reviews, Dhoni has scored 156 runs at a strike-rate of 124.80 that includes an unbeaten 75 off 46 balls that helped CSK post 175/5 after they were reduced to 27 for three.
He has also affected five dismissals from behind the stumps with two stumpings and three catches.
2. Bhajji, Tahir – The Spin Kings
The first match of the season, and a few eyebrows had been raised when Harbhajan Singh was named in CSK’s playing eleven. But it took just 9 deliveries for him to lower those eyebrows, picking up the first wicket of IPL 2019 – the great Virat Kohli walked back to the hut for six. The 38-year-old spinner eventually returned with figures of 3/20 and took home the Man of the Match trophy. So far, Bhajji has picked up 7 wickets in the 4 matches he has played at an economy of 5.12.
Another CSK bowler who has been spinning his web this IPL, and doing it with great enthusiasm, is Imran Tahir. The leg-spinner is currently the second-highest wickettaker in the league with 9 scalps in 6 innings.
3. Unhappy but Unbeaten at Chepauk
After their season opener at Chepauk, and then again after their sixth game against KKR, captain MS Dhoni expressed his discontentment with the pitch at CSK’s home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Initially, Dhoni had said he “surprised by how slow the wicket was”. “It reminded me of a Champions League wicket in 2011 after we won the IPL. The wicket definitely needs to be much better, even with dew it was spinning big,” he added.
And on Tuesday, 9 April, Dhoni said “I don’t think we want to be playing on these tracks. It becomes too low scoring. It becomes slightly difficult for our batsmen as well.”
But despite the captain’s disapproval of the pitch, CSK have been unbeaten at home so far, winning all four of their IPL 2019 matches at Chepauk.
4. Power Play or Death, CSK’s Got Chahar
Another bowler who must be given due credit for his returns this season, is pacer Deepak Chahar. Not only has he been exceptional in the Power Play overs, but has even delivered in the death under the able (and strict) guidance of his captain.
Of the 8 wickets that he has picked up in six innings at an impressive economy rate of 5.61, seven have been in the Power Play overs. And what’s more is that 63 of the 108 deliveries that he has bowled in those first six overs, have been dot balls!
With an injured Dwayne Bravo sitting out of the match against KKR, Chahar was handed the ball in the 19th after he had picked up three wickets in the Power Play. Blame the little scolding he got from Dhoni in the previous game or his impeccable straight lines, but he bowled five dot balls to the unstoppable Andre Russell, helping CSK restrict their opponents to just 108.
5. Down, but Not Out
Early into the tournament, CSK had suffered two blows in the form of David Willey and Lungi Ngidi pulling out of the entire season.
English all-rounder Willey had cited “family reasons” while the South African pacer Ngidi was forced out due to a side strain suffered during the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Both were to be a crucial part of CSK’s campaign, but the management nonetheless managed to make up for their presence with appropriate replacements.
Four matches into the season, another important cog in Chennai’s wheel was undone when Dwayne Bravo was ruled out for two weeks after suffering a hamstring tear. But even that didn’t stop CSK from continuing their winning spree.
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