Took some time to sink into the new squad that CSK has bought. I honestly think that CSK has assembled a very functional squad just like they always do, and a squad where they have worked to cover all bases and also have good amount of backups for each position/role.
If you look at the squad, you might say that "they dont have an explosive middle/lower order hitter", but they have got Sam Curran who's returning back to CSK after a humbling experience with Punjab Kings and frankly his fortunes took a dip at Punjab while he is actually known to be an explosive hitter down the order. Ravindra Jadeja has changed his game in recent times but if you time his entry well enough where he enters for the last 2-3 overs of the innings, he can easily go berserk. And coming to MS Dhoni - he showed last season that he still has it in him to bash the daylights outta the bowling. And also MSD has mentioned in a recent interview that the reason he batted that low in IPL 2024 was that he wanted to give batting time for the likes of Dube and Jadeja with the T20 WC happening immediately after the IPL. Well thats not going to be the case next year and expect Dhoni to come up higher. Also CSK have another explosive lower order hitter in Jamie Overton (has a T20 career strike rate of 160). And Rachin Ravindra is another guy who has shown that he can bat explosively and could be given different role down the order. The options are there, its just that their reputation has decreased in recent times (e.g., Sam Curran) or that there is the stereotype of "ageing" which does not exist anymore in T20 cricket.
CSK is one team who have NEVER deviated from their auction strategy since the IPL began. Well, it has resulted in them being joint highest at the trophies with MI. You might say "oh Dhoni is not captain anymore and that midas touch does not exist". Well the team culture/ethos/environment still stays the same and Dhoni is still there guiding Ruturaj and the
free hit.eu, by staying behind the stumps. I mean come on, even right now new players and returning players sport a HUGE SMILE when they know that they are being picked to JUST BE with CSK (not play; just be).
