Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes that MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings will once again finish in the top four of the Indian Premier League 2024. CSK are the reigning champions of the IPL and won the title for the fifth time by defeating Gujarat Titans in the final of IPL 2023. Super Kings are the joint most successful team in the Indian Premier League along with the Mumbai Indians.
Chennai Super Kings have played ten finals of the Indian Premier League and have ended up in the playoffs on 12 occasions. CSK have achieved this remarkable milestone in just 14 appearances in the cash-rich league. While speaking to Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar stated that the team’s squad is a full mixture of experience and youth. Gavaskar said that in the last edition, the team lacked in the bowling department and they also had to strengthen their middle order after the retirement of Ambati Rayudu.
Sunil Gavaskar said, “If you see the purchases they did at the auction table, the aspects they had to strengthen, it seemed like they lacked a little in bowling last year and in batting also they had to strengthen the middle order slightly after Ambati Rayudu’s retirement, they have done all that. They have a good mix of youth and experience.”
Sunil Gavaskar predicts another top-four finish for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Sunil Gavaskar further added that he feels Chennai Super Kings will once again finish in the top four of the ODI World Cup. He also reflected on the CSK’s performance in the IPL and said that they have qualified for the playoffs on 12 occasions. He added that it is pretty likely to happen for the 13th time.
He said, “So I feel CSK will definitely come in the top four as always. You cannot say any team ‘definitely yes’ as favorites. However, the way the Chennai Super Kings have performed for so many years, they have qualified in 12 of the 16 editions. So it’s likely to happen for the 13th time.”
MS Dhoni is also a major reason behind the success of the Chennai Super Kings. MSD has been the captain of the team from the start of the Indian Premier League. Dhoni has groomed many players under his leadership which includes the likes of Joginder Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, and Matheesha Pathirana.
Also, the Chennai Super Kings have not made any big changes to their support staff, and former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has remained the head coach of the side from the first season of the cash-rich league. The team also bets more on the experienced players and gives them enough chances, which has become one of the main successful ‘mantras’ of the team.
Chennai Super Kings have included the likes of players such as Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, and Daryl Mitchell, who can play a vital role in helping CSK once again repeat the IPL 2024 heroics.