Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will once again have a difficult season depending on the format of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).
Although CSK is considered to be the most successful side in the history of IPL, the three-time champions had a disastrous season in 2020, finishing seventh in the eight-team tournament.
As this year, no team will play at their home ground, Chopra feels this would be a major reason for the Yellow Brigade to have a tough time in the league.
Significantly, CSK will begin their campaign in Mumbai and play five matches there before moving to Delhi, where they will play four games.
CSK will then play three matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will end their league stage with two matches at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
In a video uploded on his Facebook account, Chopra said: “In Mumbai, the pacers are more successful. 70 percent of the wickets have been taken by pace bowlers and it’s not particularly helpful to spinners and Chennai is a slightly spin-heavy team. They have Karn Sharma, Imran Tahir, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner. They bought Moeen Ali and Krishnappa Gowtham. So, the list of spinners in their team is still quite high. Despite letting Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) and [Piyush] Chawla go, they are a spin-heavy unit.”
“Their fast bowling doesn’t have a lot of firepower. Yes, they have Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Sam Curran, Lungi Ngidi, Dwayne Bravo, and Josh Hazlewood. But is that going to be enough? What will be the ideal balance?” he added.
He however, observed that if CSK win atleast three of their five matches in Mumbai, it will be a huge achievement.
“You are required to score high in Mumbai. The first innings winning score is nearly 180. So, they’ll have to play a different brand of cricket there. If Chennai Super Kings can win three of their first five games in Mumbai, I believe that will be a big achievement. My prediction is that they might not start very well,” opined Chopra.
Chopra, however, said Chennai will have a good time in Delhi as the pitch suits their strength.
“They should be alright in Delhi because it’s a small ground and it (the wicket) assists the spinner a lot. The ball turns and also keeps low at times. The pitch will suit their brand of cricket,” added Chopra.
Talking about Bangalore, he expressed: “They do not have a good-enough bowling attack for Bengaluru. Bengaluru is bat vs bat contest and the overall bowling firepower required there is not there with Chennai. So, Bangalore is going to hurt them again.”
“Kolkata, [looks] even-stevens. It’s become a high-scoring, pace-friendly ground as well. I think Chennai is going to face some difficulties there as well,” Chopra concluded.
Significantly, the Dhoni-led side will kick-off their campaign against Delhi Capitals on April 10 in Mumbai.