It’s time to regroup for Chennai Super Kings

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Chennai Super Kings have been slow to get off the blocks this season. The MS Dhoni-led team, out of the five games played so far, have lost three while being successful in the other two.

However, Super Kings can take heart from the fact that they were in a similar position last year. In a marauding display of character, the two-time champions qualified for the final after winning seven of their next nine matches.

This season too, Super Kings will look to turn the tables after going down to Pune Warriors in an away fixture on Saturday. One of the encouraging signs from that game was to see Dhoni giving chance to youngsters such as medium pacer Yo Mahesh to prove their mettle.

In fact, Mahesh who was making his debut for the Super Kings was asked to bowl the crucial final over with Pune Warriors still needing 10 to win. The bowler not holding his nerve was another matter altogether but placing so much faith in the newcomer was a positive move.

The Chennai team would do well to take all the positives and start performing consistently. At present, Faf du Plessis with 171 runs from five games is the top scorer in the league.

The $2 million-buy, Ravindra Jadeja, has shown why he is worth every penny with his all-round abilities. Dwayne Bravo has also been among the runs while Albie Morkel’s match-winning knock against Royal Challengers Bangalore will hold him in good stead.

CSK will further add muscle when the talismanic Australian Mike Hussey joins the team at the end of this month. But there are a few concerns that they should try and iron out as soon as possible. Dhoni’s indifferent form with the bat is one of the major worries for Super Kings.

A superlative 40-plus against Bangalore notwithstanding, Captain Cool has been struggling to get going. He has 89 runs from five innings and the sooner he rediscovers his mojo the brighter CSK’s prospects will be.

Also, their strike bowler R. Ashwin has only one wicket to show from five outings. Ashwin, however, bowled brilliantly against Pune Warriors giving away just 19 runs.

Ashwin has been bowling a tight line but filling up the wickets column is what Super Kings will be looking forward from the wily spinner.

In the batting department, Super Kings will have to try another opening combination. M. Vijay, who is though a great striker of the ball, seems to be struggling.

It’s time Dhoni gave the other openers in the squad — S. Anirudha and Abhinav Mukund — a chance to showcase their mettle. A break will also give Vijay some time to sort out his issues.