Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made a solid start to their Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) campaign after missing out in the top four last season for the first time. Last year, Super Kings captain MS Dhoni had agreed that they had too many holes in the ship which led to a horrid season for them.

But CSK did well to fix most of the issues in the IPL 2021 to win 5 out of 7 matches and former New Zealand cricketer Scott Styris, who has also played for CSK, called them the most tactically sound team in the tournament.

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Speaking on Star Sports, Styris credited Dhoni for CSK's terrific performance in the first half of the tournament. "I was incredibly impressed by the leadership shown by MS Dhoni, as much for what they did off the field as he did on the field. He knew if they tried to repeat what happened last year, it wouldn't have worked. So they made changes, so incredibly smart and I think they [CSK] continue tactically to be the best in the competition," he said.

Styris was impressed by the new-ball bowling pair of Sam Curran and Deepak Chahar as well. He felt both complemented each other really well. 

"You pick up wickets early, it is a different ball game. They can really squeeze you and strangle you through those middle overs in particular. Sam Curran has a role to play in that with his ability to swing the ball in that one direction, Deepak Chahar on the other. I think they form a really good partnership together," he added.

Chahar bowled a couple of destructive spells in the season with the new ball and gave CSK an edge over the opposition. He picked up 4/13 against Punjab Kings and 4/29 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Unlike Chahar, Curran was also used in the death overs by CSK.