IPL 2021 2nd Phase: Strongest Playing XI Of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Without English Players

Chennai Super Kings is one of the teams that will be affected by the absence of English players in the remaining half of IPL 2021. Moeen Ali and Sam Curran were regular features in the CSK playing XI and contributed heavily to their success as well. It will be virtually impossible for the management to find ideal replacements for both the cricketers given the different roles that they played for the side.

In this article, we will try to have a look at the best possible playing XI for Chennai Super Kings without English players with ECB revoking their participation. CSK won five out of their first seven games.

Strongest Playing XI Of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Without English Players

Faf Du Plessis

Du Plessis will continue in his to play the opening role for his side when the season resumes in the UAE. With no Moeen Ali in the middle-order, Du Plessis will have the added responsibility to ban sensibly and throughout the 20 overs. He has already scored 320 runs from seven games in the season so far. With seven more games to go, he has a chance to add a few more runs to his tally.

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Ruturaj Gaikwad

Gaikwad ably partnered the former South African skipper in the first seven games for Chennai Super Kings. His role will be similar in the remaining half of the tournament as well. It also brings another opportunity for the youngster to cement a place in the side.

Suresh Raina

Moeen Ali’s unavailability will mean that Raina will move up to the number three spot in the batting line-up. Raina did not have a very good start to IPL 2021 scoring just 123 runs in the first seven games.

MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni should ideally bat at number four and give himself enough overs. For the large part of his IPL and international career, he has batted at number seven. The absence of a few players and the need of the hour for Chennai Super Kings is for their skipper to bat higher up the order.

Also Read: IPL 2021: BCCI Has The Muscle Power To Bring Back Key Foreign Players When IPL Resumes, Says Salman Butt

Ambati Rayudu

He opened the batting when he started playing for the side in 2018. In 2021, he primarily batted at number four and five and is expected to do so in the remaining games as well. He can play shots and get into hitting mode these days as per the game situation demands. This is what makes him an invaluable option in the lower order.

Dwayne Bravo

Since the last few seasons, Bravo has been playing more as a bowler in the side than for his batting skills. However, if needed he can tonk the fall a few miles and score crucial runs for his team. He is an invaluable asset with the ball especially in the death overs which have remained constant over the years.

Ravindra Jadeja

The Chennai Super Kings’ all-rounder slots in at number seven on the side. He has been a matchwinner for the side over the years. In this season too, he single-handedly helped Chennai Super Kings beat RCB in a league game. His athletic ability in the field is always a bonus for the side.

Gowtham was roped in for 9.5 crores but hardly given any game. He can cover up for Moeen Ali’s off-spin and score crucial runs with the bat as well. The bigger grounds in the UAE will make him a tough bowler to get away for a batsman.

Shardul Thakur

Thakur has developed as an all-rounder in the Indian team due to his stint with Chennai Super Kings. He and Deepak Chahar form a good bowling partnership. With the bat too, he has time and again scored crucial runs for his team. He can use his change-ups to good effect in the bigger grounds in UAE.

Imran Tahir

Tahir can be a good option with the ball given the bigger ground dimensions in the UAE. Chennai Super Kings have been a team that has been a spin heavy unit over the years and the UAE conditions with pitches slowing down as the season goes on make him an interesting option.

Deepak Chahar

Chahar completes the Chennai Supper Kings playing XI for the second half of IPL 2021. The side did not have a good IPL season to remember in the UAE last season, But there is no reason why they cannot end on a good note this season.

Also Read: 3 Reasons Why Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Can Win The IPL 2021 Title In UAE