CSK will taken on Mumbai Indians in Sharjah on Friday.
Ahead of Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) crucial IPL 2020 match against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday (October 23), former New Zealand and CSK all-rounder Scott Styris has made a big statement about the franchise's future in the ongoing T20 league in the UAE.
CSK have been struggling in all departments with captain MS Dhoni himself failing to deliver and are lying at bottom of IPL 2020 points table with just 6 points – 3 wins in 10 matches so far. Apart from Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh’s absence, CSK have also been really hurt by the injuries this season
However, the three-time IPL champions are still “mathematically” in the competition, but their chances to qualify for the IPL 13 playoffs are hanging by a thread, as CSK has not only have to win their remaining 4 matches but also have to hope for other factors to turn in their favor to make it to top four.
Well, Styris doesn’t think it can happen given their current position in the points table and miserable form in the ongoing IPL 2020, saying the “life cycle of this team” has gone and Dhoni’s team is among the other teams that are “out of this tournament right now”.
He further said CSK doesn’t have the firepower to turn it around and reach the play-offs of IPL 2020 citing the age factor. However, CSK’s experienced players proved handy for them almost in every IPL season but Styris said he can't see “an aging and old team” turning it around in the ongoing season.
Styris told Star Sports about CSK's chances in IPL 13: “Short answer and it hurts me to say this, I don't think so. I think they are the ones side who are out of this tournament right now.”
The commentator further explained, “You could tell by Stephen Fleming's press conference last match. He believes the life cycle of this team is gone. We have been talking about it for 3 years, an ageing, old team. When that is the case, the performances, at some stage, were supposed to fall off the cliff as age catches up. I think this year is the year.”
He signed off by saying, “I think they did well to get as far as they did last year. But there are so many match-winners in that CSK side who are a little bit older or not quite finding form. I can't see them turning it around. Apart from Faf du Plessis, with his consistent performances, and Deepak Chahar, there are not much else.”
Noteworthy, CSK will now face Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab in their remaining matches in the ongoing IPL 2020.