Predicted XI of Chennai Super Kings for the Opening Match of IPL 2023

image-lfw5zn9qMoeen Ali will be a key part of the CSK XI in the first match (Source: Twitter/@ChennaiIPL)

Cricket's biggest extravaganza, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to return for its sixteenth edition as it promises much more action, drama, fun, thrill and nostalgia. This year too the big guns will be going head-to-head with MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya clashing in the opening encounter as defending champions Gujarat Titans face off against the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

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Most Probably in his final season, MS Dhoni would be hoping to turn the tables as CSK finished ninth in the last season whereas their counterparts emerged as the champions after beating Rajasthan Royals in the finals, previously.

The yellow army will be surely boosted by the addition of English all-rounder Ben Stokes whose price went up to ₹16.25 Crore in the auctions that happened in December. However, with some international series going on at the moment, they would be missing three of their overseas stars in form of Sisanda Magala, Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana for the first few games.

On the other hand, the Titans are hampered by the unavailability of David Miller who will join the team after the conclusion of the Netherlands series.

The game would only see high-class action getting unfold in front of about 1 lakh people which means the Super Kings would want to get their best possible XI on the field. Therefore, we have selected the strongest probable playing eleven of CSK for the first game.



Strongest XI of Chennai Super Kings

Openers

Ruturaj Gaikwad: The orange cap holder in the 2021 season of the league, Ruturaj Gaikwad is now a name that selects itself automatically in any side. The classy right-hander is known to provide solid starts at a healthy rate which helps to build a base for a big total.

Devon Conway: One of New Zealand's top-performer in the past year, Devon Conway has been brilliant at the top of the order. The southpaw will be crucial to CSK's chances as they expect to form some valuable partnerships with the youngster at the other end.



Middle Order

Moeen Ali: Ever so useful Moeen Ali will come in handy with both bat and ball as his power-striking abilities along with off-breakers have proved to be the deciding factors on many occasions for the franchise.

Ambati Rayudu: A star performer from the past five seasons, Ambati Rayudu has been the saviour of the side on many occasions. The right-hander has delivered time and time again despite giving up on international cricket. The most important thing with him is that his role has been defined by the franchise which has helped him to perform perfectly according to the situation.

Ben Stokes: One of the best all-rounders in the world at this stage, Ben Stokes is the right guy for the Chennai Super Kings who knows how to handle pressure well. The big hitter would be an ideal candidate to play the big shots when the ball does a thing or two. Apart from that, his value would only increase whenever he starts to bowl in the tournament.

MS Dhoni (c & wk): Renowned finisher of his time, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the name that would attract a million names to the TV sets. Dhoni's role in the side would once again be to lead the Super Kings in the most efficient manner. Along with his mind-blowing wicket-keeping abilities, the finisher is known to deliver some lusty blows towards the end of the innings.

All-Rounders

Ravindra Jadeja: Ravindra Jadeja's name has been quite controversial with the CSK side but now all things have pretty much been cleared as the all-rounder will look to play an empathic role with his all-round abilities. Moreover, his performances have been quite decent in recent times too.

Dwaine Pretorius: The ex-Proteas seasoned campaigner Dwaine Pretorius demonstrated his batting and death bowling skills last year when CSK were struggling to get-go. The right-armer's role would be to bowl economical spells in death with his wily skills while scoring quick runs with the bat in death.

Bowlers

Deepak Chahar: Indian bowling all-rounder Deepak Chahar would be making a return to professional cricket after a huge gap of almost a year. The medium-pacer was dearly missed by the Chennai-based franchise last year as they failed to qualify owing to a lack of pace bowling options. Hopefully, this time he stays fit and represents his side in full rhythm.

Prashant Solanki: The leg-break spinner who played for the Super Kings in the 2022 edition, Prashant Solanki was impressive with the ball as he bagged some useful wickets in the middle. Further, he could be groomed to be the lead spinner in the future.

Simarjeet Singh: Disciplined with his line and length, Simarjeet Singh showcased his quality on the big stage when the opportunity arrived. This year too he will have to perform under tremendous pressure as the side would be without their other premier pacer.

image-lfv4mngxCSK Strongest XI for the first match of IPL 2023 (Source: OneCricket)

With Mukesh Chaudhary injured, there's a big hole to fill in the bowling department. Adding to the woes, some international recruits would be joining a few days later.