IPL 2023: Predicted XI of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the season

    CSK have quality all-rounders to play.

    CSK team
    CSK team. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

    Chennai Super Kings are the most successful team in terms of most matches won in the history of the Indian Premier League. They have played as many as 209 games in the competition wherein they were able to win as many as 121 games. On the other hand, they lost 86 games but possess the highest win percentage of 58.41 compared to any other team in the tournament.

    Chennai Super Kings are also the most consistent team in the competition. CSK players are best known for their reputation of qualifying for the playoffs in most of their participating campaigns in the tournament. They failed to qualify for the playoffs only twice in their history – in the IPL 2020 and IPL 2022 seasons respectively. On the other hand, they have qualified for the finals on 9 occasions, more than any other team.

    Chennai Super Kings won their first title by beating Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2010 Final. They won their second title by beating Royal Challengers Bangalore in the subsequent IPL Final. CSK beat Sunrisers Hyderabad to win their third title in IPL 2018 season. MS Dhoni and Co beat the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2021 Finals to win their fourth title.

    However, they failed to operate as a team last season, finishing ninth on the table. Now, let’s take a look at the predicted XI of Chennai Super Kings for the upcoming season of the IPL.

    Openers: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad

    Ruturaj Gaikwad
    Ruturaj Gaikwad. (Photo Source: Twitter)

    History tells us that CSK has thrived with the left and right-hand combination formula, a template that will stick to their approach in the next edition of the IPL. It is no secret that Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad will dominate the proceedings as the opening pair for Chennai Super Kings in the sixteenth edition of the IPL. Devon Conway was bought by CSK at the IPL 2022 mega auction for INR 1 crore.

    Having made his IPL debut last season, he went on to feature for the CSK franchise in seven matches. He aggregated 252 runs to his name at a pretty good batting average of 42. Notably, he slammed three half-centuries, registering his personal best score of 87. CSK team management decided to retain the New Zealand international ahead of the IPL 2023 mini-auction.

    Ruturaj Gaikwad is certainly one of the players to watch out for in the upcoming season. CSK bought him for his base price of INR 20 lakh at the IPL 2019 Player Auction. Since then, he has established himself as the best opener for CSK. Ruturaj Gaikwad had a breakthrough season in the IPL 2021 campaign when he finished the season as the leading run-scorer with 635 runs in 16 matches and deservedly won the Orange Cap.