Chennai Super Kings have been one of the most debated teams since the franchises landed in the UAE to play the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The MS Dhoni-led side has been majorly hit with players pulling out and 13 members contracting COVID-19.
Incidentally, star players Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh have pulled themselves out of IPL 2020 owing to personal reasons. Raina returned to the country despite travelling with the side to the UAE in the wake of COVID-19 fear.
However, with MS Dhoni at the helm, the team is slowly getting back into its feats and have started their training. They will begin their campaign against defending champions Mumbai Indians on the opening day on September 19.
Meanwhile, they are known to have a strong core group which is the main reason behind consistent success in the cash-rich league. However, they have some strong newcomers who can turn the tide if given an opportunity.
Let us take a look at 3 new picks to watch out for in Chennai Super Kings:
1. Ruturaj Gaikwad
Touted as one of the future stars of Indian cricket, Ruturaj Gaikwad was roped in by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the 2019 season at his base price of ₹ 20 lakh. However, in a star-studded team, the right-handed batsman had to warm the benches throughout the season.
The 23-year-old has been a consistent run-scorer for Maharashtra in the domestic circuit across formats. However, Gaikwad’s average improves drastically when it comes to limited-overs, and he also boasts a strike-rate of above 135 in T20s. In the absence of Suresh Raina, the youngster can be Chennai’s long-term No.3 option.
While the cricketer contracted COVID-19 along with Deepak Chahar, he is doing fine and will be fine to be available for selection from the first game. Ruturaj Gaikwad will be one of the new picks to watch out for in Chennai Super Kings camp.
