IPL 2020: SWOT Analysis of Chennai Super Kings

CSK in IPL 2020: Weaknesses

Dwayne Bravo is nowhere near as effective as he once was in the IPL

#1 CSK have a threadbare pace attack

A problem that has plagued them for a few seasons now, CSK's threadbare pace attack is still far from solid despite the acquisitions of Sam Curran and Josh Hazlewood in the 2020 IPL auction.

While Curran is still expected to be a key player despite largely underachieving in his only IPL season so far, Hazlewood is almost entirely untested at the highest levels of T20 cricket.

Deepak Chahar has been their only consistent performer, even earning a few call-ups to the Indian T20I squad, but he is currently recovering from COVID-19 and perhaps cannot be thrown into the thick of things immediately. His partner-in-crime, Shardul Thakur, has economy rates of over 9 in both his IPL seasons for CSK and arguably doesn't have enough variations to perform at the level that is expected of him.

Dwayne Bravo recently became the first bowler in T20 history to take 500 wickets but the West Indian is getting on in age and is a shadow of the lethal death bowler he once was, although he does continue to provide crucial breakthroughs.

Lungi Ngidi might not get enough games, with the departure of Raina needing the batting department to be beefed up either by a similar left-hander - Sam Curran - or an overseas professional in Du Plessis.

CSK's lack of depth in the pace department could haunt them in IPL 2020.

#2 The current situation in the UAE is highly detrimental to CSK

The circumstances surrounding the CSK squad in the UAE at the moment might be detrimental in more ways than one.

The withdrawal of Suresh Raina has left a gaping 5,368-run hole at No. 3 and they might not have enough time to find an adequate replacement. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is slated to be his direct replacement in the playing XI, hasn't played a single IPL game and the other Indian batter on the bench - wicket-keeper N Jagadeesan, hasn't as well.

The positive COVID-19 tests have ensured that they will start training almost a week after all other IPL teams, leaving them with significantly less time to prepare for the tournament. With the players on the wrong side of 30, the lack of sufficient practice ahead of a tournament that is taking place in the sweltering UAE conditions will be a major problem for CSK.

#3 Fielding will be (and has been) an issue for CSK

The biggest reason why the age factor has been under a spotlight is fielding. MS Dhoni, who once dropped even Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag because they weren't the sprightliest in the field, has had to make to with a number of sub-par fielders manning all the important positions.

The likes of Chahar and Thakur have had to man the boundaries, because players like Shane Watson and Kedar Jadhav no longer have obliging hamstrings. The fielding, which could cost them 15-20 runs each time, has further been worsened by Raina's departure.

Dhoni is certainly of the opinion that these players are more than capable of contributing heavily in other departments, but if Imran Tahir, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla and Shane Watson (no disrespect to them, of course) all take to the field at once, it won't be a sight that will please CSK fans.

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