The Chennai Super Kings have started the preparations for the Indian Premier League in Chennai. The Chennai franchise has called up a couple of Sri Lankan bowlers, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana to make additions to the reserved squads.
Pathirana who has a bowling action similar to that of MI and Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga can hit the deck at very high speeds. He, in fact, bowled a 175 kmph ball to India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal during the U19 World Cup. Though, later it was found that there was an error in judgement.
CSK will play their first match in the IPL 2021 against Delhi Capitals in Mumbai on April 10. The MS Dhoni-led franchise had a dismal run in the last edition of the IPL in UAE after they were knocked out of the tournament in the league stage itself.
CSK are the second most successful side in the IPL after Mumbai Indians. While MI have won the title five times, CSK have lifted the trophy thrice.
The Chennai team was one of the two sides apart from Rajasthan Royals who was banned for a couple of years during 2016 and 2017 editions for being allegedly involved in a spot-fixing scandal.
CSK bought Moeen Ali (INR 7 crore), Krishnappa Gowtham (INR 9.25 crore) and Cheteshwar Pujara (INR 50 lakh) during the IPL 2021 mini auctions held in Chennai last month. Apart from this, Robin Uthappa has also joined the franchise after he was traded from Rajasthan Royals. ‘
CSK squad for IPL 2021: MS Dhoni (C & WK), Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, KM Asif, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, N Jagadeesan, Karn Sharma, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Sam Curran, Josh Hazlewood, R Sai Kishore, Krishnappa Gowtham, Moeen Ali, Cheteshwar Pujara, K Bhagath Varma, C Hari Nishaanth and M Harisankar Reddy.