Chennai Super Kings(CSK) has been one of the most successful franchises of all time. What makes them one of the most successful teams in each IPL season is their flexibility and the available options. They always start the season with many possibilities. Just in case their key players are injured or out of form, they still have suitable replacements in their backups.
CSK thus has many openers as well. From the likes of Hussey-Vijay and Smith-McCullum, CSK has always had a reliable opening pair. It would be exciting to see their opening combination this season. Today we shall take a look at five such possible opening combinations CSK could try.
1) Shane Watson and Faf Du Plessis
Unarguably the best available options to bat at the top for CSK is the experienced duo of Shane Watson and Faf Du Plessis. This veteran duo has been very successful for CSK at the top. It is This pair which has been opening for CSK in their last 5 matches. However, playing both of them would mean that they would have to compromise on one overseas bowling option, hence opening with Watto and Faf might affect CSK’s team balance.
2) Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu
Every team would want an opening combination where one opener can hit from ball one, and the other opener could take his time and anchor the innings from one end, Watson and Rayudu could perform that role with Wason the aggressor and Rayudu the anchor. This duo was CSK’s openers in the initial matches of IPL 2018 as well as IPL 2019. Rayudu, at the top, gives CSK the luxury to play an extra all-rounder at 7/8. Rayudu was very successful as an opener for CSK; this might be the opening duo CSK go ahead with. The first six mandatory Powerplay overs would also help Watson and Rayudu get those early boundaries and help them get to a good start.
