IPL 2024 Team Overview: CSK Roster, Key Strengths and Weaknesses, and Forecast
August 11, 2024
August 11, 2024
The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League will begin on March 22. The Chennai Super Kings, who are the reigning champions, will start their campaign by playing the opening match at home against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Following a thrilling last-ball victory to secure the title last season, everyone will be watching to see how the Super Kings defend their title in IPL 2024. While many teams have undergone significant changes, the Chennai Super Kings are relying once again on their stable core group. This article will provide an in-depth look at the CSK squad for IPL 2024.
Let’s dive right in.
The Chennai Super Kings team for the 2024 IPL includes:
Batsmen: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Sameer Rizvi, MS Dhoni, Aravelly Avinash
All-Rounders: Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nishant Sindhu, Ajay Mandal, Rajvardhan Hangargekar
Fast Bowlers: Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Chahar, Simarjeet Singh, Mustafizur Rahman, Shardul Thakur, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande
Spinners: Maheesh Theekshana, Prashant SolankiV
CSK is known for being one of the top teams in the IPL. The 2024 squad has the following strengths:
One of Chennai Super Kings’ greatest assets is their batting lineup. They boast one of the deepest batting squads in IPL 2024. At the top, they have powerful hitters like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, and Daryl Mitchell. The middle order features Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, and MS Dhoni.
Last season, Ruturaj and Conway’s opening partnership was crucial to CSK’s impressive starts. However, Conway will miss the first half of IPL 2024 due to a thumb injury. This likely means Rachin Ravindra will partner with Gaikwad at the top this season.
Adding Daryl Mitchell to the squad further boosts CSK’s strength. After scoring 552 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Mitchell is expected to be a key player in place of Ben Stokes. Additionally, Shivam Dube, known for his ability to hit spin, adds extra power to the middle order.
Read more: IPL 2024 Team Preview: Mumbai Indians Full Squad, Strengths, Weaknesses, and Prediction
The Chennai Super Kings boast a powerful spin attack, led by Ravindra Jadeja. Last season, Jadeja was exceptional, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker with 16 wickets at an economy rate of 7.56.
Mitchell Santner, a top Kiwi spinner, is also on the team. Although he hasn’t had many opportunities recently due to Jadeja’s presence, he has shown he’s a strong backup when needed. With both Jadeja and Theekshana, the spin department is further enhanced.
All-rounders play a crucial role in shifting the momentum in white-ball cricket. The Chennai Super Kings have several key all-rounders who can turn any game around, including Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, and Mitchell Santner.
The team has been further strengthened by the addition of Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra, making their all-rounder lineup even more impressive. Ravindra Jadeja has been outstanding for Chennai since 2012, excelling with both bat and ball. He famously secured Chennai’s win against Gujarat Titans in the 2023 IPL final with a boundary and a six.
Shardul Thakur, the leading wicket-taker for Chennai in their 2018 and 2021 title wins, is known for his effectiveness in the final overs. After a less notable IPL season, Shardul is eager to make a strong comeback with CSK.
The Chennai Super Kings have reached the playoffs 12 times and won 5 IPL titles in 14 seasons. Their success is largely attributed to MS Dhoni’s leadership.
Over the past 17 years, Dhoni has become well-known for his strong leadership and aggressive batting. His extensive experience as a captain has been a major asset for the team, helping him win 133 IPL matches.
CSK should be mindful of these areas of concern for the 2024 IPL:
In the 2024 IPL, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lack experienced international fast bowlers. While they have skilled bowlers like Deepak Chahar and Matheesha Pathirana, their attack lacks the aggressive edge needed. Although Bangladesh’s standout pacer, Mustafizur, could be a solid option, he might not secure a spot in the starting eleven. CSK needs high-quality pacers who can perform well in crucial moments.
Shardul Thakur is effective at taking wickets but tends to be expensive. Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, and Rajvardhan Hangargekar showed promise last season, but the team needs a bowler who can effectively pressure opponents during the final overs.
Ajinkya Rahane was a key player for Chennai’s top order in the 2023 IPL, consistently scoring runs. Recently, though, his performance in domestic cricket has declined.
It will be interesting to see if he can meet expectations. If he struggles to regain his form, CSK may need to consider other Indian players for the top order.
Dhoni has shown great leadership, but he struggled with his batting last season. He typically batted at number 7 and wasn’t able to make significant contributions. Additionally, he’s not fully fit due to an injured knee.
Probable Playing XI for CSK
Based on current stats and their performance on the field, the likely starting eleven for CSK is:
Based on Chennai Super Kings’ performance in the 2023 IPL, it’s easy to guess how they’ll fare in the 2024 season. The team appears well-equipped to defend their title.
They boast a strong and versatile batting lineup, featuring top players like Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Daryl Mitchell. Their middle-order batsmen are also capable of changing the game at any time.
Chennai’s spin bowling is their biggest strength this season, with key players such as Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Maheesh Theekshana, and Moeen Ali. However, their pace attack is weaker, lacking high-quality international fast bowlers.
Despite these concerns, Chennai is expected to have an excellent season, likely making it to the playoffs and possibly reaching the final.
