IPL 2020: COC Predicted Best Playing XI for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 13

Chennai Super Kings have won the IPL in 2010, 2011 and 2018.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise has been on a roll ever since returning back to the IPL fold in 2018 after a two-year ban. They won the tournament on return in 2018 and reached the final in 2019 as well, losing to Mumbai Indians by just one run.

Meanwhile, they did well in the IPL 2020 auctions, releasing just five players and buying some incredibly talented cricketers to fill up gaps in their armor. The likes of Piyush Chawla, Josh Hazlewood, and Sam Curran will don the yellow jersey in the upcoming IPL season in the UAE.

IPL 2020: CSK to embark on training from September 4 without COVID-19 infected players

However, the tournament will be played in UAE from September 19 onwards and the franchise has already lost a big player in Suresh Raina, their vice-captain, who pulled out of the 13^th edition of the league, citing personal reasons.

Keeping this in mind, Team COC presents to you the predicted playing XI for the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the upcoming IPL 2020 in the UAE.

Here is the COC Predicted Best Playing XI for Chennai Super Kings

SHANE WATSON
M: 134| Runs: 3575| HS: 117*| Avg: 31.08| SR: 139.53| 100s: 4| 50s: 19| 6s: 177| 4s: 343 | Wkts: 92 | BB: 4/29 |Eco: 7.93

Shane Watson has been one of the premier all-rounders in the IPL over the years. He was instrumental in the Chennai Super Kings winning the IPL in 2018 and almost won them the title in 2019 as well.

IPL 2020: "Dhoni told me CSK is never out of the game," Watson recalls thrilling win over MI in IPL 11

The 39-year-old all-rounder has been troubled by injuries in recent years and captain MS Dhoni has used him judiciously with the ball, but with the bat, he has been amazing for them for the past two years and he might want to add another trophy to his kitty before hanging up his gloves.

RUTURAJ GAIKWAD
Yet to make his debut in IPL

23-year-old Ruturaj Gaikwad is yet to make his debut in IPL but will be eager to get back onto the field, after recovering from Coronavirus. He is currently in isolation in his hotel room in Dubai, but with Suresh Raina out of the IPL 2020, Gaikwad is poised to replace him in the playing XI and possibly play at his natural position as an opener.

IPL 2020: BCCI to release IPL schedule on Saturday; CSK v MI to be tournament opener, as per reports

He has a good domestic record with 1349 runs in 21 FC matches, 2499 runs in 54 List-A games, and 843 runs in 28 T20 matches with a total of 10 centuries to his name. He has a strike rate of 135.31 in T20s which is very good for someone in top order and he will look forward to grabbing the opportunities that come his way.  

AMBATI RAYUDU
M: 147| Runs: 3300| HS: 100*| Avg: 28.69| SR: 125.95| 100s: 1| 50s: 18| 6s: 120| 4s: 278

Ambati Rayudu has become an IPL legend of sorts after spending almost a decade with Mumbai Indians and then playing two seasons for the Chennai outfit. He scored his maiden IPL ton for CSK and has flourished as an opener. This time, however, he might be needed to bat at no.3 position with Suresh Raina absent from the scene.

IPL 2020: Harbhajan Singh likely to miss IPL 13; CSK set to practice from Friday

Rayudu, 34, has shown the knack for mixing aggression with technique works very nicely. He can hit the big shots to both spinners and pacers and has the ability to rotate the strike as well in middle overs. He is a dependable player whom Dhoni trusts and if needed can keep wickets as well.

MS DHONI (C&WK)
M: 190| Runs: 4432| HS: 84*| Avg: 42.20| SR: 137.85| 100s: 0| 50s: 23| 6s: 209| 4s: 297 | Cts: 98 | St: 38

Free from the pressure of international cricket since announcing his retirement on August 15, MS Dhoni will be looking to carrying forward his legacy in the Indian Premier League. Dhoni, who has played the second most IPL matches in 190, showed resurgence as a big-hitter in IPL 2019, but his hitting prowess has weakened over time.

IPL 2020: First glimpse of CSK captain MS Dhoni after coming out of isolation in Dubai

Dhoni will now have the time to focus on his IPL game totally and we can expect some fireworks as he aims for a fourth IPL title. The fans will be awaiting his return to the field, as he has not played any cricket since the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.

FAF DU PLESSIS
M: 71| Runs: 1853| HS: 96| Avg: 31.40| SR: 126.74| 100s: 0| 50s: 12| 6s: 59| 4s: 163

Faf du Plessis has been one of the best match-winners for them in recent years. He has played 71 matches for the yellow army and scored 1853 runs, mostly batting down the order or opening. Du Plessis is brilliant at working the gaps and can hit the big shots whenever needed. No one can forget his match-winning innings against SRH in the playoffs of IPL 2018 when he won CSK the game out of nowhere.  

DWAYNE BRAVO
M: 134| Runs: 1483| HS: 70*| SR: 128.28| 50s: 5| 6s: 61| 4s: 116| Wkts: 147| BB: 4/22 | Eco: 8.39

Dwayne Bravo recently became the first bowler to pick 500 wickets in T20 cricket and his record in IPL is also brilliant. Bravo has scored 1483 runs and picked 147 wickets in 134 matches he has played. His best knock came against Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2018 tournament opener, where he won CSK the game out of a hopeless position.

Dwayne Bravo reveals Sakshi Dhoni suggested the "Helicopter 7" name for his MS Dhoni song

As a bowler, he is dependable to bowl miserly and pick wickets as well. Bravo is widely known as the best death overs bowler and his array of slower balls and yorkers are famous. On top of it, he is a brilliant fielder anywhere in the ground and is a top-class entertainer, loved by everyone.  

RAVINDRA JADEJA
M: 170| Runs: 1927| HS: 48| SR: 122.58 | 6s: 65| 4s: 135| Wkts: 108| BB: 5/16 | Eco: 7.57

Ravindra Jadeja has grown in his role as an all-rounder for the CSK team, especially in the last few seasons. His contribution as a batsman has become bigger given that he was already a very good bowler and an excellent fielder. He has 108 wickets and 1927 runs in 170 matches for CSK.

"My signature, my identity," Ravindra Jadeja shows off his style in latest photo

Jadeja is a handy hitter down the order, who has won CSK quite a few matches with his lusty hitting, while he is sure to pick a wicket or two, mostly bowling in the middle overs. An asset in every form, Dhoni is sure to give him more responsibility in the absence of Raina in the team.

PIYUSH CHAWLA
M: 157| Wkts: 150| BB: 4/17 | Eco: 7.82

Piyush Chawla is one of the four bowlers in IPL history to pick 150 wickets. A brilliant leggie, Chawla has played for two franchises only before joining the CSK- Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders. He won the IPL with KKR twice and now will look to do the same as he joins forces with MS Dhoni.

Exclusive: Circle of Cricket presents REECHAT hosted by Reema Malhotra; Episode. 4 feat. Piyush Chawla

Chawla will love the slow, turning wickets in UAE and form a deadly combination with other spinners in CSK rank. He has the ability to bowl in both powerplays and death overs and did well in both roles for KKR in the past.

DEEPAK CHAHAR
M: 34| Wkts: 33| BB: 3/15 | Eco: 7.63

Deepak Chahar became the go-to bowler for MS Dhoni ever since he joined the CSK franchise in IPL 2018. He has played 34 matches, picking up 33 wickets, with most of them coming in the powerplays, where he has got the ball to swing and seam at a good speed.

IPL 2020: WATCH - "I have recovered well," says Deepak Chahar after testing positive for COVID-19

His good performances in IPL 2019 earned him a place in the Indian team as well, where he became the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in T20Is and has the best figures as well. Chahar is currently in quarantine after testing positive for the COVID-19 virus and will be eager to return to practice.

SHARDUL THAKUR
M: 36| Wkts: 36| BB: 3/19 | Eco: 9.03

Shardul Thakur has done his job of picking wickets quite well at the start, but his economy of 9.03 is a worry for MS Dhoni. Thakur seemingly has the faith of Dhoni in him, as he gets consistent chances to play for the yellow team and will look forward to repaying that faith with some good performances in the upcoming IPL 2020.

IMRAN TAHIR
M: 55| Wkts: 79| BB: 4/12 | Eco: 7.88

The most experienced spinner in the CSK line-up, South Africa’s Imran Tahir has done amazingly well for the yellow army over the last two years. Dhoni has used him primarily as a wicket-taker and Tahir has delivered more often than not. He has picked wickets whenever called onto the bowl, whether it is in the first ten overs or the last few overs.