IPL 2022: CSK Season Review – Flawed auction strategy leads to chaotic season
The defending champions Chennai Super Kings had a dismal run in the IPL 2022, and as a result, they failed to qualify for the playoffs for only just the second time in the history of IPL. The four-time champions had a bad season in the 13th edition but bounced back stronger last year to win the title. Will they be able to make a comeback next season?
CSK made a shocking announcement just a few days before the start of the IPL 2022 when MS Dhoni decided to step down as the skipper and handed the baton to Ravindra Jadeja. But things fell out of place for the team as they entered the league with a new skipper who did not hold any experience in captaining a side.
The Yellow Army lost the first four games of the season consecutively, thereby facing a major blow right at the start. When CSK looked to grab one more title to take their tally to five championships, the multiple defeats blurred their chances of qualifying for the playoffs. Injuries kept knocking on the team’s doors too, which played a major spoilsport in CSK’s momentum.
CSK roped in Mukesh Choudhary and Maheesh Theekshana at the auction this year, who went a tad-bit pricey in the initial games. But the amount of improvement they showed in the games that followed later was magnificent. In the absence of Deepak Chahar, Choudhary emerged as a brilliant option for the powerplay.
Shivam Dube emerged as another player whom CSK did not regret purchasing. His power-hitting skills in the middle and during the death overs worked wonders for CSK. Veteran players Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa had raised the team’s expectations from them after their heroics in the 2021 season, but a big knock from their bat came only on rare occasions.
Devon Conway, the New Zealander, who was picked as the team’s opening batter, failed in the season opener but made a brilliant comeback to the side in the second half as he smashed back-to-back half-centuries. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the prolific opening batter who was the highest run-scorer in the IPL 2021, was backed by the side in every game, but could not impress much this season.
Skipper MS Dhoni, who was criticized for his poor form, bounced back stronger this season and provided his side with some thrilling finishes. The legendary wicketkeeper-batter taking over the captaincy midway in the league gave some hopes to the Yellow Army, but nothing seemed to have worked for the team as a unit.
CSK became the second team to be eliminated from the race this season, but they carried a lot of learnings along with them. They will surely try to tweak the team a bit by making changes before the next season, and utilizing the opportunities that arrive at the auction.
