The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already started their IPL 2022 preparations in Surat. Skipper MS Dhoni and some domestic players have arrived in the ‘Diamond City of India’. The BCCI announced IPL 2022 full schedule on March 6 which confirms that the defending champions will play Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the tournament opener.

In the pictures shared on CSK’s social media handles, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, C Hari Nishanth, and Rajvardhan Hangargekar can be seen training hard with ‘Captain Cool’ ahead of the mega-event.

Lalbhai Contractor Stadium will be the home of the team for the next few days. The reason why Dhoni and co. have chosen this venue is that the soil in the pitches of this stadium is the same as that of Mumbai wickets.

CSK will be playing 11 out of their 14 league games in Mumbai (Wankhede, Brabourne, DY Patil) and hence this move by the franchise can prove to be a masterstroke.

The Hi 👋 we have been waiting for!🤩 Day 1⃣: 🏏#WhistlePodu #SingamsInSurat 🦁 pic.twitter.com/WgvSPK43Sy

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 6, 2022

Our #SingamsInSurat are all set for the stride, on a new lane with @TVSEurogrip! 🥳#WhistlePodu 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/K63SKartNt

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 6, 2022

Shubh Aarambh @ Surat! ✨#SingamsInSurat #WhistlePodu 🦁💛

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 7, 2022

𝐴𝑏ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑎 Surat! Those eyes that smile with 💛 give us the joy, everywhere we go! #SingamsInSurat #WhistlePodu 🦁 pic.twitter.com/T8xwHjoqeI

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 7, 2022

CSK set to miss the services of Deepak Chahar for the majority of IPL 2022

Deepak Chahar, CSK’s lead bowler, is likely to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season due to injury. Deepak may be out of action for several weeks, according to reports in ESPNcricinfo.

The medium-pacer had injured his right quadriceps while delivering his second over in the 3rd match of recent India vs West Indies T20I series. Deepak was unable to even complete that over and had to leave the field in pain. The bowling all-rounder was later ruled out of the T20I series against Sri Lanka.

In the IPL 2022 mega-auctions, Deepak Chahar was bought by Chennai Super Kings for a staggering amount of  INR 14 crores. The 29-year old has been MS Dhoni’s go-to new ball bowler for a long time, and his absence would undoubtedly hamper CSK’s chances of winning the IPL 2022 for the fifth time.

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