I did not want to make any post yesterday as the adrenaline was pumping and I would have let some irrationality creep into the larger scheme of things and I felt
@Bevab post on the CSK deserved better.
Let us get one thing out of the way- CSK have not executed well this year. I don't think they've played awfully and I can say that because I have seen some legendary Bangalore seasons. If we are to judge them by their lofty standards then yes they have not played well and fallen into the trap of playing 'dated cricket.'
Now let me ask a few questions to you-
This "dad's army" has aged and it is well known. It was well known in 2018 and we all know the results from 18 and 19 and now. As you said, it's a point you accept in the sense that 1st, 2nd and last place are results any franchise would desperately take bar Mumbai in this leg? The same people that were jumping up and down from the last two years are now suddenly crying foul.
The thing that has irked me the most about some posts here is the crystal ball revelations. Without taking any names, statements like "oh this guy is so and so age and he should pack up!" Why? Because a few of us keyboard warriors feel so? I think 2018 was a good tight slap across the faces of people who were making a big deal about this (Sanjay Manjrekar) and an inspirational message for anyone that if your heart is in it and you work hard for it then age is just a number. You can achieve what you want. I think a tremendous amount of crap has been written about Raina without any official confirmations and he has been an equal backbone of this franchise along with MS.
My biggest point is that anyone can have a bad season. The IPL is notorious in this sense because it's like quick sand. The more you struggle in a season, the more it clenches you in. And this year has been a year of the pandemic, preparations have been all over the place, the tournament itself was in jeopardy and I feel it's okay to have a bad year for guys who have basically never had a shocker of a season. Ask an RCB fan. Too much ingratitude here pertaining to CSK. One day, India will lose to Pakistan in the World Cup. It's inevitable. We need to avoid doing what we did in the 90's i.e throw this one out, start a blame culture etc etc. Find the reason for the loss, move on and improve. I certainly cannot remember one franchise in 13-14 years that has so quickly moved on and started prepping in earnest for a new season. Gaikwad is already a fixture next year and it just shows the progressive mindset and professionalism of a well oiled mega cricket team. There is a reason someone so self involved as Jadeja was passionately gesticulating at the 'India cements' branding yesterday and not the "Jadeja" name. These guys have been running cricket teams for 50+ years. They know their sh!t.
I'll again say- With all these bubbles, covid, lack of prep I think CSK should be given more margin. People are talking about Raina bailing, MS has had a season to write off. He simply has become so humongous a name that nobody dares to snarl a finger. Again, I will only agree that this is a side that is finished when it happens agin. Not now.
I had sighted the examples of Baumgartner and Federer not because of any similarity or dissimilarity to sport. If anything, my point gets amplified because cricket is less physical than both of them and as I have said- If these old hags decide they want to win the 2021 IPL, these legends will make something of it. They might not win, but I can sure shot say they will qualify. They are all fit, they are responsible and only simply their template is extinct and no longer jaded. I can already see a decent side taking shape and I think what they desperately need are three things-
1) A dynamic foreign batsman. I have no idea why Billings was let go. May be their overseas slots were filled. I think someone like Jason Roy would be an ideal fit for example at the top with Gaikwad. If I were India Cements, I would move oceans and mountains to get Williamson.
2) What they have desperately missed is a choke bowler. A role someone like Ashwin and Harbhajan has fulfilled for years. They can find one in the domestic circuit to support the leggies.
3) One more Indian batsman of pedigree in the middle order. They could perhaps trade a Kedar Jadhav for someone like an Abdul Samad.
I will just conclude by saying that way too much rubbish has been written about a franchise that has been operating like the Aussie management and team of the 2000's and this extends beyond the glittered history of CSK. It's even before that. They have had poor seasons back then as well and this one is the first in the IPL. Early signs are that they have already understood their mistakes and are working on fixes for not just the long term but also short term future.
The current line up or rather core going into 2021 looks like-
Gaikwad
du Plessis (have a ready replacement like Roy and in case you need both then Faf can always move to 3)
Rayudu
India batsman unless Raina continues.
Dhoni
Jadeja
Curran
Chahar
Indian off spinner
Hazlewood
Tahir
You can see that they don't need any major revamp for next year. Just some things to fall in place. For 2022 yes, it will depend on what these players feel themselves too. But I don't think this side will be a pushover next year. One swallow doesn't make a summer.
