IPL 2018: All you need to know about the CSK squad

#3 Batting

Raina has been a cornerstone of CSK's success over the years.

CSK has always been blessed with an astounding batting line-up at the helm of which, is Suresh Raina. One of the most prolific run-scorer and also the highest run-getter in IPL history, Raina has accumulated 4540 runs at a strike rate of 139.05 across 10 seasons. Raina would be joined by Murali Vijay and Shane Watson at the top order.

Vijay returns home

Vijay, who returns to CSK after a hiatus missed the last season due to injury (but accumulated 450 runs in 14 matches for the Kings XI Punjab in 2016) while Shane Watson would be looking to make amends after an indifferent IPL season last year that saw him make 70 runs and pick just five wickets for RCB.

While Watson and Vijay will start as openers, English opener Sam Billings can be slated as a backup in case either of Watson and Vijay hit a rough patch. In terms of uncapped players, Delhi batsman Dhruv Shorey would be another player to watch out for. Shorey who averages over 55 in 18 First Class matches, shone into the limelight when he scored a pristine hundred in Ranji Trophy Finals 2017/18 against the eventual champions Vidarbha.

The middle order boasts of seasoned campaigners in du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, and Kedar Jadhav. While du Plessis has been a veteran for the CSK over the years, Ambati Rayudu brings in a plethora of experience with him. Having played for Mumbai Indians for a better part of 10 years, Rayudu was one of the cornerstones of Mumbai Indians batting over the years, having accumulated 2416 runs from 114 matches.

The IPL will be crucial for Jadhav

While Rayudu will bring his years of experience, Kedar Jadhav would be looking for a prime season with the bat in a bid to stake his claim back to the Indian squad. However, with only Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo and MS Dhoni as power hitters down the order and at the time where Dhoni’s power hitting is in a decline, the team falls a bit short in terms of a power hitter and the onus would be on Bravo and Jadeja to power his team at the backend of the innings.