IPL 2020: Aakash Chopra Picks CSK's Ideal XI, Names Replacement For Suresh Raina

All eyes are on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as they gear up to start their IPL campaign without one of their most important player – Suresh Raina. The three-time champions will be also without senior spinner Harbhajan Singh. Both the players have pulled out of IPL 2020 citing personal reasons.

The MS Dhoni-led side will start their campaign by taking on defending champions Mumbai Indians in the tournament-opener on September 19. With not much time left before the tournament gets underway, the CSK management must be having a hard time in finalising their playing eleven without Raina.

Raina has been an indispensable part of the side since the inaugural season in 2008 and is their all-time leading run-scorer. Only time will tell how CSK line up this season but former India opener Aakash Chopra has already picked his ideal CSK XI.

The former cricketer-turned-commentator picked Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu as the opening pair. He then picked South Africa star Faf du Plessis to replace Raina at number three. There was a toss up between Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni for the number four position but the former Delhi batsman went with the former.

“At No.1, I am putting Shane Watson. He doesn’t play international cricket, which goes against him. We said the same thing the last 2 years, but he went hard at the bowlers. There was a time when everyone thought that he should be dropped but MS Dhoni didn’t do that and then Watson repaid the faith shown on him.

“Along with him will be Ambati Rayudu. The last twelve months have been eventful for him. He first announced his retirement and then unretired himself. Now we will have to see how he bats in the IPL.

“At No.3, I am going with Faf du Plessis. I think this season will be very important for him, especially if you see from CSK’s point of view. Because if he does well, then CSK will also do well because he will have to shoulder the burden of Raina’s absence. He plays spin well and is very fit also.

“At No.4, you can keep MS Dhoni or Kedar Jadhav. I have gone for the latter.

“So, we will have MS Dhoni at No.5. For MS Dhoni the simple rule should be that he should go into bat whenever 10-11 overs are done, irrespective of the batting position,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

For the sixth spot, Aakash Chopra picked Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Dwayne Bravo. He opined that this year it can be Jadeja’s IPL but asked the India star to come out of his supporting role and pick up the lead role this season. Further, Aakash Chopra picked Imran Tahir and Piyush Chawla as the other two spinners and Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur as the team’s main pacer.

“Because MS Dhoni likes to go with 7 bowling options, we will have to go with Ravindra Jadeja at No.6. He is doing very well but in this season he will have to do much more as a batsman, he will have a lot of responsibility on him. Earlier he used to play a supporting role, this time he will have to do the lead role for CSK.”

“At No.7, I have got Dwayne Bravo. He is coming in good form from the CPL. You also have the option of playing Sam Curran instead of him as an all-rounder option.

“At No.8, it could be Mitchell Santner or Imran Tahir. May be we will have to go with Tahir else there would be two left-arm spinners.

“At No.9, I have got Piyush Chawla. They have paid a lot for him and they will have to play him ahead of Karn Sharma. And he will bat a bit as well.

“At No.10, I have got Deepak Chahar. He bowls well with the new ball in the powerplay. He takes a lot of wickets. Coming back after injury and COVID, the hope is that he will only move forward and not look behind.

“At No.11, I have got Shardul Thakur. You will have to play him with Harbhajan not being available, in case they had wanted to play more spin,” Aakash Chopra added.

Aakash Chopra’s ideal Chennai Super Kings playing XI:

Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Faf du Plessis, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Imran Tahir, Piyush Chawla, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur.

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