IPL 2023: After the mini-auction, CSK’s best-predicted playing XI

IPL 2023: After the mini-auction, CSK’s best-predicted playing XI

The most consistent team, Chennai Super Kings, won the IPL 2023 Auction after making 11 playoff appearances in 15 seasons of the Indian Premier League. Prior to the auction, they had to release eight players, and they had to concentrate especially on the all-rounders and top-order hitters.

The MS Dhoni-led team is looking strong in terms of experience after the auction, and their acquisitions on D-day have filled the holes. Ben Stokes, the captain of England’s red-ball side, was selected by the team as their first choice, followed by Kyle Jamieson and Ajinkya Rahane.

Here is the playing XI of CSK after the conclusion of the mini-auction: 

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad, the skilled batsman at the top of the order, has been consistently scoring runs for CSK in recent matches. He began his IPL career in 2020, scoring 204 runs in six innings to secure his spot for the following season.

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Gaikwad was in his finest T20 form of his career during the 2021 season. He was awarded the orange cap after slamming 635 runs at a 45.35 average. Additionally, his performance enabled CSK to win the championship.

Gaikwad struggled to get going in the previous edition but found his form in the second half. Prior to the 2023 auction, he was kept after scoring 368 runs, with a high score of 99.

2. Devon Conway

In November 2020, Conway made his international debut for New Zealand, and his career has taken off well so far. With averages of 51 and 42.50 in Test and One-Day International cricket, he has scored a lot.

He also holds a 48.75 average in the shortest format, and CSK also kept him. He originally missed some games in the 2022 season because of his wedding, but he came back strongly in the second part of the campaign.

Conway had three fifty-sixes and 252 runs in seven outings for a strike rate of 145.66 throughout the course of the season. In this season, he is anticipated to play an anchor position for CSK.

3. Moeen Ali

From 2018 to 2020, Moeen Ali played for Royal Challengers Bangalore while competing in the IPL. In 2021, he made the transition to Chennai Super Kings, where he has since helped the team succeed in both areas.

Moeen has a reputation for getting runs scored quickly and saving the team from danger. He is also a competent bowler who can take wickets when they are needed most. The left-hander is a valuable player in the condensed version of the game and is in high demand in franchise leagues worldwide.

In the past two years, the 35-year-old has participated in 25 games for CSK, appearing in 25, contributing 602 runs and taking 14 wickets. With the most IPL experience, he will be an important member of the top order for captain Dhoni and a floater with the ball.

4. Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu has participated in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Mumbai Indians. He has consistently produced for the CSK team and was a key component of the team’s IPL triumph. He scored the most runs for CSK in the 2018 season, amassing 602 runs in 16 games at an average of 43.00.

Rayudu is renowned for his sound technique and capacity for rapid run production. He is a vital member of the CSK team and will probably continue to be crucial to it going forward.

Rayudu scored an average of 24.91 in 2022, but CSK decided to keep him until the auction because of his background and experience. The middle-order hitter will try to end his IPL career on a good note after scoring more over 5800 runs in the shortest format.

5. Ben Stokes

After suffering an injury in the IPL 2021, the intriguing all-rounder Ben Stokes has finally made his way back to the league. He has had a great year as both England’s Test captain and a hitter. In the longest format, he has guided England to nine victories out of their last 10 games.

Additionally, his style of play has given the English squad fresh energy. The Three Lions won the T20 World Cup title with to Stokes’ innings of 52* off 49.

Stokes has scored 920 runs and taken 28 wickets in 43 IPL games. The 31-year-old, who has expertise managing pressure situations, can lead the team quickly and add a sparkle to the slog overs. Additionally, with MS Dhoni expected to hang up his captain’s boots, he could be considered the CSK’s next captain.

6. MS Dhoni (c & wk)

MS Dhoni, the chief architect of CSK, may be participating in his final Indian Premier League season. Despite the team’s poor performance in the most recent competition, the captain hopes for a strong recovery in 2023.

The 41-year-old has played in 234 IPL games so far, scoring 4978 runs at an average of 39.20 and hitting 24 fiftys. Dhoni, the batter, has performed a touch below average in the last several editions. In the 2022, 2021, and 2020 seasons, he scored runs at an average of 33.14, 16.28, and 25.00.

With Ben Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja serving as the top batters this season, Dhoni is most likely to stay at the sixth or seventh spot. He will therefore be playing the finisher in the 2023 edition.

7. Ravindra Jadeja

Since the last ten years, the talented all-arounder Ravindra Jadeja has been a top performer in both sectors for CSK. Jadeja has amassed a total of 132 wickets and 2502 runs in 210 IPL games. He has played 142 games for the Chennai-based team out of them and is already a legend for them.

He was given the chance to be the team’s captain before the 2022 competition. However, he was only able to assist the team in two of their eight triumphs. Then he handed Dhoni the baton once more. In addition, the 34-year-injury old’s prevented him from competing in the previous four games.

Jadeja got knee surgery and stopped competing on the world stage in 2022. He will probably be back on the field soon, and the team hopes to have him back for the entire season.

8. Shivam Dube

In the Indian Premier League, Shivam Dube is yet to establish himself. Despite some excellent starts, he frequently falters in the second half of that specific season. He battled fiercely against a number of opponents in the most recent IPL season.

Shivam stunned Royal Challengers Bangalore with an incredible 95* off 46. He received a few bad scores in the future games, though, which caused him to be dropped from the starting XI.

His inclusion in the starting XI for the 2023 edition is uncertain given Stokes’ entry into the team setup. However, the group can use him as a floater and useful bowler.

9. Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar, the best new ball player in powerplay innings, will be a key figure for CSK. In T20s, Chahar is unmatched for his ability to bowl alluring lines and lengths while gaining traction from the surface.

However, the bowler frequently battles injury worries. While he lost the 2022 edition due to hamstring and back ailments, he was sorely missed. The 30-year-old injured his hamstring during the ODI series against Bangladesh earlier this month and is out of commission.

Chahar has 59 wickets for a 7.80 economy rate in 63 IPL matches. He is anticipated to be the cornerstone of CSK’S bowling unit because to his improved capacity to control runs in the last overs.

10. Mukesh Choudhary

The left-arm bowler made an impression during his first IPL season last year, where he constantly took wickets while holding back the hitters. However, Mukesh Choudhary got off to a rough start, but as the season went on, so did his performance.

In 13 games, the kid picked up 16 wickets, with a best of 4/46. Despite having a 9.32 economy, the speedster took wickets when it mattered most. He enjoyed a successful domestic season in 2022 as well, and he will eagerly anticipate the 2023 campaign.

Mukesh will be a better bowler for the IPL 2023 thanks to his much-needed experience in the T20s and the other two formats. He’ll probably bowl three to four overs, and he and Chahar make a great bowling tandem.

11. Maheesh Theekshana

One of the young talents in the T20 format has been the Lankan spinner. He was given a spot in the Sri Lankan national squad thanks to his outstanding performance in the Lanka Premier League. In the T20 World Cup 2022, he took six wickets for the Islanders.

Maheesh has been brilliant with the ball, consistently picking up wickets with his flippers and accurate bowling. The gifted spinner had a successful economy rate of 7.46 while taking 12 wickets in nine games during his first IPL season in 2022.

Theekshana will be a top foreign bowler on pitches like Chepauk that favour spinners. Kyle Jamieson, on the other side, may take his position on brief, brisk pitches.