IPL 2018: 4 Chennai Super Kings players who should step up their game before the playoffs

Chennai Super Kings became the second team to qualify for the 2018 Indian Premier League playoffs after Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rajasthan Royal’s victory against Mumbai Indians confirmed their spot in the playoffs. With eight wins in 12 games, CSK must win at least one of their remaining two games to ensure a top-two finish.

CSK and their history of playoffs is not something new for the IPL fans. CSK will look to win their third title straightaway in their comeback season. With Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in supreme form, no total is safe to defend against the men in yellow. However, there lies a concern with the rest of the lineup. Among them, the following four players should immediately step up their game before the playoffs.

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#4 Harbhajan Singh

After a decade-long relationship with Mumbai Indians, Harbhajan Singh could have expected the franchise to retain him for the 2018 season. However, the Mumbai franchise decided to let go of the veteran. CSK bought the seasoned campaigner at his base price of INR 2 crores in the 2018 auction.

Harbhajan Singh has played ten games in this season. He took just seven wickets with the economy rate of 8.08. His economy rate is evident to his tight bowling spells in the tournament. He is satisfied right now with batsmen knocking him down for singles with occasional boundaries.

However, the problem lies in his wicket tally. Harbhajan should bowl more attacking lines in the upcoming games. He should look to pick more wickets to control the run flow. Since Harbhajan is more likely to feature in the playoff games, he needs to perform better in the remaining league games.

#3 Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja's form will be crucial for CSK before the playoffs

Jadeja’s role in the playing XI is a long debate among the fans and experts in the entire tournament. He silenced his critics with a man of the match performance against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Apart from that match, his only other valuable contribution is his six against Kolkata Knight Riders to seal the game for CSK in their second league match.

In 12 games, Jadeja had the opportunity to bowl in only 10 games. He has rarely completed his full quota of four overs. Similar to Harbhajan, Jadeja also took only seven wickets with the economy rate of 8.00. With the bat, he scored 59 runs in eight innings with the strike rate of 115.68.

Jadeja is a confirmed starter in the playoffs. Therefore, it is time for Jadeja to replicate his RCB heroics in the upcoming league matches. Jadeja’s form will also make the lower-order stronger for CSK.

#2 Suresh Raina

Raina is the only player in the history of IPL to score 350+ runs in ten consecutive seasons

Apart from MSD, Suresh Raina is the only other player to be associated with the CSK franchise since the inception of IPL. CSK retained the southpaw ahead of the 2018 auction. His retention showed the faith that the franchise had on him.

Raina is the only player in the history of IPL to score 350+ runs in ten consecutive seasons. In the ongoing season, Raina had scored 315 runs from 11 games with three 50’s. These numbers can be perfect for any batsman. But for a player like Raina, it is well below his standards. Surprisingly, he is currently in the 18th position in the runs chart.

With only a couple of games left before the playoffs, it is the right time for the left-hander to regain his consistency and batting prowess.

#1 Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo took 32 wickets in the 2013 season

CSK bought the West Indies all-rounder using Right-to-Match card option for a sum of INR 6.4 crores. Dwayne Bravo is one among the many players who are part of the CSK franchise for a long time. In 12 games, Bravo has picked only nine wickets. With the bat, he scored 133 runs from eight innings. In that 133, 68 runs came in a single innings against Mumbai Indians in the season opener.

The death-over specialist of CSK is having a torrid time with the ball. He has conceded runs at the economy rate of 9.89, which is very expensive for a bowler of his caliber. He is getting too predictable these days with his repetitive slow off-cutters. Batsmen are picking him easily as even Vijay Shankar smoked him for three massive sixes a few nights back.

It is true that Bravo did not get enough opportunities with the bat in the recent times because of the excellent form of top-order. However, he can improve his game with the ball. Bravo is the same person who once took 32 wickets in a single season. Bravo can even look back at his form in the past years to regain his touch.

‘Champions’ will step up at the right time. Therefore, it will not be surprising if the ‘Champion Bravo’ step up in the upcoming games.