IPL 2020: CSK's predicted playing XI

All-rounders: Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran

Ravindra Jadeja will be arguably CSK's most important player in IPL 2020

The easiest choices on this list, Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo will form the backbone of the CSK batting lineup in IPL 2020. Both all-rounders have been key components of the team's success over the years in the IPL, and will be utterly crucial in the UAE.

While Bravo is CSK's premier death bowler, Jadeja will extract considerable turn in IPL 2020 and will need to be spot on with his lines and lengths. The left-arm spinner will be arguably CSK's most important player in the tournament, and could even be promoted up the order to add another dimension in the absence of fellow southpaw Raina.

New signing Sam Curran is expected to wrap up the all-rounders department in CSK's playing XI for IPL 2020. The English youngster didn't exactly make heads turn with his performances in his debut IPL season for the Kings XI Punjab, but he could play a role similar to the one Albie Morkel did with great success.

With his left-arm pace and stroke-filled batting, Curran would add an extra element of surprise and youth.

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Bowlers: Piyush Chawla, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir

Imran Tahir was the Purple Cap winner in IPL 2019

Another buy in the IPL 2020 auction, Piyush Chawla is expected to slot right into the playing XI given his hefty price tag and success in the league. The leg-spinner's potent googly and variations of pace will be lethal weapons in the absence of an off-spinner in the CSK team. He may also turn out to be handy with the bat, although MS Dhoni will hope that Chawla's services are never required.

Deepak Chahar recently tested positive for COVID-19 and has since announced that he is recovering well. Even if he is not available for the first game, he will spearhead CSK's pace attack as soon as he is fit. The Rajasthan pacer can swing the new ball both ways, and has developed into a potent death bowler over the past 2 years. Like Chawla, he is also useful with the bat.

The Purple Cap winner in the 2019 IPL with 26 wickets, Imran Tahir will take up the final overseas slot in CSK's playing XI for the 2020 IPL. The leg-spinner is on the wrong side of 40, but is still as effective as ever. A fan favourite and a major wicket-taking threat, he rounds off what is perhaps the best spin attack in IPL 2020.

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CSK's Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2020:

Faf du Plessis, Murali Vijay, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Piyush Chawla, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir

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