IPL 2021: Four overseas players who will be confirmed starters for CSK
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be desperate to bounce back in IPL 2021 after a disappointing campaign in IPL 2020. For the first time in their history, the Chennai-based outfit failed to make it to the playoffs as they finished seventh in the previous edition of the tournament. One of the reasons behind the failure was the poor team combination.
By the time CSK could realise their strongest eleven, the damage was done. CSK would be definitely aware of the mistake and would be looking to rectify it in the forthcoming edition. So, before the tournament gets underway, we are taking a look at the four overseas players who are likely to feature regularly in the playing eleven.
Faf du Plessis:
Faf du Plessis has been an integral part of the CSK camp since signing up for the franchise in 2011. He played for Rising Pune Supergiant for two years when CSK were suspended but the franchise made sure to buy him upon their return to the competition. The former South Africa international was one of the very few positives for CSK in IPL 2020. He finished the competition as CSK’s highest run-scorer, scoring 449 runs with the help of four fifties. He looks set to be a regular part of CSK’s top-order in the upcoming season.
Sam Curran:
Sam Curran’s emergence in IPL 2020 was another positive for CSK in an otherwise dismal season. Playing his maiden season for the three-time champions, Curran impressed with both bat and ball as he scored 186 runs and picked up 13 wickets (highest for CSK). His match-winning cameos against Mumbai Indians in the tournament-opener and against Sunrisers Hyderabad must be still fresh in the CSK fans’ mind. Curran showed that he could be one of the key building blocks of a new-look Super Kings team in the future and is looking set to play for the most part of the season.
Moeen Ali:
Moeen Ali was CSK’s most expensive overseas buy in the latest auction. The Chennai-based outfit shelled out Rs 7 crore to buy the England all-rounder and it looks like he would be an integral part of the team’s playing eleven in the upcoming season. Moeen is an aggressive middle-order batsman who can open the innings too and is more than a handy off-spinner.
The Chepauk track has traditionally assisted spinners and it won’t be surprising if Moeen remains the team’s preferred all-rounder ahead of old warhorse Dwayne Bravo. Moeen has already shown what he can do at the Chepauk with his 18-ball 43 runs knock against India in the second Test and CSK would be hoping that their new recruit lives up to the expectations.
Imran Tahir:
Imran Tahir surprisingly warmed the bench for a majority of IPL 2020. The veteran from South Africa was not preferred by the CSK team-management for reasons known only to them and he played his first game when CSK were all but out of the competition. Tahir’s first game of the season was CSK’s 11th. He played two more games and picked up just one wicket.
Tahir, however, is likely to play a big part for CSK in IPL 2021 especially after Harbhajan Singh’s departure. The last time the IPL was held in India, he was the highest wicket-taker. Tahir had made the most of the spin-friendly wickets of India especially in Chennai and had finished IPL 2019 with 26 scalps to his name. The veteran leg-spinner can expect a busy outing in this year’s tournament.
