MI vs CSK: Kashi Vishwanathan, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has confirmed that two of CSK’s overseas players, Josh Hazlewood and Sam Curran, won’t be available for selection for CSK’s first couple of games in IPL 2020.
While Hazlewood might not have got into CSK’s first choice playing XI anyway, CSK might have played Curran if he was available, particularly after Raina’s withdrawal from the tournament. Some people were actually backing Curran to bat at no. 3 for CSK in Raina’s absence.
But, now with Curran not being available for the first couple of games, CSK will have to find other options. And these two top-class cricketers will be missed in the opening, ‘MI vs CSK’ game.
Vishwanathan, however, has insisted that even in the absence of Curran and Hazlewood, CSK has enough fast bowling options for the initial stages of the IPL.
“We are mindful of it that Josh and Curran won’t be available for the first two games. But, Bravo and the party should make it for the MI vs CSK game. We have enough firepower and should manage.” Vishwanathan was quoted as saying.
Right now, Deepak Chahar is quarantined because of COVID 19, but if he gets fit in time, he will be a certain pick in the XI. Apart from Chahar, Lungi Ngidi has reached the UAE and will start training soon. Shardul Thakur, KM Asif, and Monu Kumar are the other fast bowlers available in the CSK camp.
Shardul is an India international, but he is not quite a certainty in the CSK XI and the same goes for Asif, who has played a couple of games for CSK in the past but is not quite an established member of the side. Monu Kumar is yet to make his debut for CSK.
However, in case Chahar doesn’t get fit for the first couple of games, one out of these three bowlers might get an opportunity as the second pacer alongside Lungi Ngidi.
Dwayne Bravo, who is likely to arrive on time at the completion of the ongoing CPL, will probably play as the third pacer for CSK in the first game.
It will be interesting to see CSK’s playing XI for the MI vs CSK opener. More to follow…
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