IPL 2021: Opening Pair Of Chennai Super Kings

After a disastrous performance in IPL 2020, Chennai Super Kings is all set to display a better show in IPL 2021. Chennai Super Kings finished on the 7^th spot in the points table in the last edition. Suresh Raina’s absence in IPL 2020 hampered the team’s batting department to a great extent. In IPL 2021 auction, Chennai Super Kings spent Rs. 20.35 crore to purchase six players in their team.

Krishnappa Gowtham was Chennai Super Kings’ costliest buy at Rs. 9.25 crore. MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings also bought English all-rounder Moeen Ali for Rs. 7 crore and Cheteshwar Pujara for Rs. 50 lakh. K Bhagath Varma, C Hari Nishaanth and M. Harisankar Reddy were the other three players which CSK bought. These players were bought at their base price of Rs. 20 lakh.

Shane Watson, who was released by CSK ahead of IPL auction 2021, was a brilliant opener for Chennai Super Kings. The Australian all-rounder played majorly as an opener throughout his career. For Chennai Super Kings too, Watson took the responsibility of opening the innings.

Another CSK opener Murali Vijay was dropped by the team ahead of IPL 2021 auction. Murali Vijay used to open the innings with Shane Watson in IPL 2020. After the ouster of Murali Vijay and Shane Watson from CSK, we will look at the best opening pair of Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021.

IPL 2021: Opening Pair Of Chennai Super Kings

Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu

Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu will be the best opening pair for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021. Talking about Faf du Plessis, he has played as an opener for Chennai Super Kings earlier too. The South African cricketer has been part of the Chennai Super Kings for a long time. Since 2012, Plessis has been representing CSK in IPL tournaments.

The right-handed batsman Plessis has played 76 matches for Chennai Super Kings so far. In 70 innings, he has scored 2088 runs at an average of 33.14. He has hit 14 half-centuries with the highest score being 96. He also has a strike rate of 129+, which makes him a good choice for an opener.

Last year in IPL 2020, the 36-year-old cricketer was the most run-getter for CSK. He scored 449 runs in 13 innings which consisted of 4 half-centuries. He also had a great strike rate of 140+. So considering Plessis’ batting stats, he will be a great choice as an opener for CSK in IPL 2021.

Ambati Rayudu, who joined CSK in IPL 2018, will be a good option to replace the former opener, Murali Vijay. Rayudu was in astonishing form last year. In just 11 innings, Rayudu smashed 359 runs at an average of 39.88. Batting at a strike rate of 127+ in IPL 2020, the right-handed batsman also hit 1 half-century.

Since IPL 2018, Ambati Rayudu has played 45 matches for CSK. While batting in 44 innings, Rayudu has scored 1243 runs at an average of 35.51. He has also hit 5 half-centuries along with one unbeaten century. Ambati Rayudu will provide great assistance to Faf du Plessis as an opening batsman.

Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu will be the best choice of openers for CSK in IPL 2021. Both share a superb batting strike rate which means they can pile up a lot of runs for CSK during powerplay overs.