(Part 2) CSK Squad: A big list of all-rounders and bowlers.

Here is the second part of our CSK analysis. Earlier we discussed retention, leadership, the team’s spin focus and more. In this article, we will discuss the pace department, all-rounders, middle order and probable team 11.

Bowling Arsenal
We talked about how strong the spin department of the team is but management has also worked on the pace department with the inclusion of Khaleel Ahmed and Sam Curran. Along with them, the team added two pacers in the auction, Nathan Ellis and Jamie Overton and the team already retained the death-over specialist Matheesha Pathirana before the auctions. This pace department gives a lot of depth to the bowling department along with a lethal spin attack. 

A strong Middle-Order
While the team has managed to build strong bowling, they have also worked on a middle-order batting lineup. With the addition of run-hungry Rahul Tripathi who already has the experience of playing under MS Dhoni during Rising Pune Supergiant camp. Along with him, the team also included Vijay Shankar and Shivam Dubey to help in the middle and with the finishing touches of MS Dhoni at the end. 

Large All-rounders group.
While the team has completed the full squad of 25,12 players out of the 25 can contribute with bat and bowl. There are several marquee All-Rounders in the team: Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Rachin Ravindra, Shivam Dubey, Vijay Shankar, Moeen Ali, Deepak Hooda and Vijay Shankar. Jadeja who was retained before the auction at Rs. 18 crores along with him there are 3 overseas all-rounders: Sam, Rachin and Moeen. This also showcases CSK's desire to have strong batting till the 8th number. It will be interesting to see who gets the chance on the team.

The team has built a rock-solid team, worked on all the departments and built a solid core for the next three years. I have mentioned an optional player along with playing eleven.

Probable Playing 11(+impact player)

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad 
2. Devon Conway/Rachin Ravindra
3. Rahul Tripathi
4. Deepak Hooda/Vijay Shankar 
5. Sam Curran/Moeen Ali
6. Shivam Dubey
7. MS Dhoni
8. Ravindra Jadeja 
9. Ravi Ashwin
10. Noor Ahmed
11. Matheesha Pathirana
12. Khaleel Ahmed (Impact)

Coaching Staff

• Head Coach: Stephen Fleming
• Batting Coach: Michael Hussey
• Bowling Consultant: Eric Simons
• Additional Support Staff
• Batting & Fielding Coach: Rajiv Kumar
• Team Trainer: Gregory King
• Physiotherapist: Tommy Simsek
• High-Performance Analyst: Lakshmi Narayan

The team looks very strong on the paper and this might be the match-winning squad of the IPL. If you try to find the weakness the only weakness you can find is that there are not many proper batters in the lineup, most are All-Rounders who can bat well, but we will get to see how CSK manages all players to get the best out of them.