The Chennai Super Kings had once again failed in this season with another loss on the trot for the Men in Yellow, this time against the Punjab Kings. Even with the return of their skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad and the addition of Sanju Samson to their batting unit, they seem to be struggling as a side. Chepauk is considered to be the fortress of the Chennai side, and losing on the same pitch raises quite a few alarms for the home side. Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin had mentioned that the reason for the side’s success over the years has been the presence of MS Dhoni and his ability to take up different roles for the side.
"Whether you accept it or not, 99% of CSK's success is down to one man: MS Dhoni. He was the captain, mentor, and coach all rolled into one. His leadership and scouting made the difference. People labelled them the 'Daddy's Army,' yet he won with them regardless. No matter what the critics said, he just kept winning," said Ravichandran Ashwin.
MS Dhoni has been one of the most successful captains in the history of the league with 5 titles to his name. Despite Chennai facing many criticisms for the focus on picking experienced players over fresh talent, Dhoni has been able to prove the critics wrong by winning titles with the same squad. MS Dhoni’s wisdom in field placement and bowling tactics is quite unmatched, as he can outwit any batter. The Chennai Super Kings already seem to be missing their main man with just two games into the season, and MS Dhoni is yet to miss a few more key games for his side.
Chepauk No Longer a Fortress? CSK’s Bowling Raises Serious Concerns
The Chennai Super Kings had a terrible outing in their opening game against the Rajasthan Royals as they were bowled out for 127, and the Royals chased down the total in the 13th over.
The Chennai bowlers seem to be lacking a plan, and they are simply unable to pose a threat to the batters. Their batting unit is power-packed with the likes of Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Mhatre and Shivam Dube, but their bowling seems to be the area of primary concern.
Against the Punjab Kings, they had a decent chance to defend the total of 210, as Chepauk isn’t a pitch that batters cherish to bat on. Still, the bowlers weren’t up to the mark, and the major weakness in the bowling could be the inefficiency of the spinners. Rahul Chahar and Noor Ahmad will have to bowl exceptionally well if they need to have chances to win their home games, and the presence of MS Dhoni behind the stumps could add a lot of value to their bowling attack. With 12 more matches to go in the season, the Chennai Super Kings will be hoping that they can turn their fortunes around with the players stepping up their game.
