IPL 2018: Chennai Super Kings' 7-factor analysis 

#2 Middle overs batting (overs 7 - 15)

Suresh Raina is the key player for CSK in the middle overs

CSK's batting in the middle overs has been below par. They lost 5 wickets in the first match and then 2 each in the next two matches during this phase which made the chase stiffer.

Kedar Jadhav who was a key member of CSK's middle order, sustained hamstring pull and was ruled out for the rest of IPL. Talismanic middle-order batsman Suresh Raina too had to sit out for the first time in 158 matches (for CSK) due to an injury to the calf muscle in the second match against KKR. Injury concerns continued to haunt the CSK as MS Dhoni too had a back strain in the match against KXIP.

CSK's middle-order found it really difficult to cope with wrist/mystery spin of MI, KKR, and KXIP in the middle overs. Sam Billings was the only one who managed to score well against the KKR in the middle overs.

Fortunately for CSK, the next match is on the 20th of April 2018, which gives Raina and Dhoni enough time to regain fitness and work on batting against the wrist spinners.

The middle overs batting stats are -

CSK middle overs batting stats