The Chennai Super Kings have assembled one of their strongest squads, having filled the void that was present coming into the auction. With already solid top-order batters and potent spinners who can also bat, CSK’s only major concern was with regard to their bowling department and a couple of slots left open by the retirement of Ambati Rayudu and the absence of Ben Stokes in the coming season.
But the defending champions were able to find suitable replacements for the coming season with the purchase of several quality international players like Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, and Mustafizur Rahman, among others. With this, we look at the probable playing XI for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2024.
Chennai Super Kings Full Squad for IPL 2024
CSK squad: MS Dhoni (c), Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, Avanish Rao Aravelly.
CSK Probable Playing XI for IPL 2024
Openers: Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad
One of the reasons for CSK to go all the way in the last season was the opening pair of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway. They both complimented each other, with Gaikwad playing the aggressor’s role and the New Zealander piling up big runs throughout the tourney (672). So it’s a no-brainer that the duo will continue to be at the top of the order for CSK in the coming edition.
Middle-order: Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, and MS Dhoni
Ajinkya Rahane was a revelation last time around, where he smashed 326 runs at an astonishing strike rate of over 172, making the No. 3 slot his own in the lineup and most likely continues to do so. Daryl Mitchell, the new recruit, is sure to come in the middle order, most likely at No. 4, having done a similar role for New Zealand successfully in 2023, and Moeen Ali may make way for him. Last but not least, CSK will have their skipper, MS Dhoni, coming in one of the middle-order slots.
Also Read | MS Dhoni IPL Runs – Year by Year
All-rounders: Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, and Deepak Chahar
CSK always had the luxury of having some good all-rounders in their lineup. This time too, the men in yellow have in their ranks their perennial all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who played a key role for the team last year, and Shivam Dube, who, like Rahane, has turned things around since joining the team. CSK also comprise 2 fast-bowling Indian all-rounders in Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar, who make sure the batting is deep while also giving them wicket-taking options.
Bowlers: Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, and Maheesh Theekshana
CSK didn’t have much experience when it came to the bowling department but found match winners in the limited specialist resources they had. 3 of them are Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, and Maheesh Theekshana, who are likely to start for the yellow brigade in the coming edition.
Probable Playing XI: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, MS Dhoni, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana
