Chennai Team in Indian T20 League 2022

By Vivek Krishnan

With four Indian T20 League titles and five finals across 12 years, Chennai will always carry the weight of expectations going into the new season. After a disappointing time in 2020, they silenced their detractors by clinching the crown in 2021. 

Although Chennai lost a few key players at the recently concluded auction, they managed to retain their core. With a mix of veterans and newly absorbed youngsters, Chennai has a perfect blend of experience and youth. 

Unfortunately, Deepak Chahar has been sidelined with injury for the first phase of the season. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how the defending champions fill the void left by their lead seamer. That said, skipper MS Dhoni is known for pulling a rabbit out of the hat. Dhoni’s ability to transform players from obscurity to authority is a testimony to his leadership skills. 

Game Changers for Chennai Team

Much of Chennai’s fortunes will depend on the success of Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali. While Jadeja is arguably the most complete cricketer in the Chennai camp, Moeen’s flexibility with both bat and ball is a boon. The fantasy players too can immensely benefit from the marquee all-rounders. 

Key Contributors for Chennai Team

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting was arguably the biggest revelation in the 2021 edition. He ended the tournament as the highest runs-getter (635) in 16 innings. Chennai will pin their hopes on the youngster for a good foundation at the top. 

Ambati Rayudu has been a vital contributor for Chennai in the middle-order. Although he takes time to get into the groove in the middle-order, his ability to explode at the death is quite incredible. 

Runs, wickets, and brilliance in the field: Dwayne Bravo is a proven match-winner. However, given his age and fitness issues, Chennai will need to use him smartly. 

Newcomers for Chennai Team

Post his impressive showing in the Under-19 World Cup, Rajvardhan Hangargekar is likely to be unleashed at the earliest. Besides bowling briskly, he can also use the long handle to good effect. He is billed as the junior Hardik Pandya. 

After squandering the opportunity to buy back Faf du Plessis at the auction, Chennai are expected to bank on the New Zealand opener Devon Conway. Despite not being overly explosive, Conway maintains an average of 50 at the international level. 

Although Chennai have match-winning spinners in Jadeja, Moeen, and Maheesh Theekshana, they also roped in leg-spinner Prashant Solanki. The 21-year-old is known for bowling a useful googly. Furthermore, Solanki hails from Mumbai, and with most league games scheduled in the city, he could prove to be a handy resource.

On the fantasy cricket front, the unknown players often tend to make a difference despite their reasonable budget. 

Strengths of Chennai Team

Since inception, the chief architects Dhoni and Stephen Fleming, have scripted the legacy of Chennai. The duo’s experience—coupled with unparalleled strategy—augurs well for the Men in Yellow. Moreover, Chennai’s propensity to avoid unnecessary rotation of players has helped them in the past. The top- and middle-order are also replete with multiple domestic and overseas options. 

Weaknesses of Chennai Team

Chahar’s absence will hamper the four-time winners not only in terms of experience but also quality. Over the past few years, his wicket-taking ability with the new ball often propelled Chennai to pole position. Expect the inexperienced Indian seamers to get exposed at least in the initial stages. 

Chennai will also be concerned about their big hitters. Currently, Jadeja seems the only front-runner. With Dhoni’s gradually waning hitting ability and Shivam Dube’s inconsistency, finishing with a flourish could be a rare sight. 

Probable XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu/Robin Uthappa, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Chris Jordan/Maheesh Theekshana, Dwayne Bravo, Tushar Deshpande, KM Asif 

Conclusion: Barring the 2020 edition, Chennai have always qualified for the playoffs. In fact, they have had the best winning percentage (60.56) in the Indian T20 League till now. However, going forward, if Chennai can stitch together a potent seam attack, it will enhance their chances of making the final four. But perhaps, it’s the potential swansong of Thala Dhoni that is likely to keep the fans on the edge of their seats.

Following is the complete list of all the Chennai Cricket Team Players.