Chennai Super Kings is currently at the top of the table, with five wins in seven matches. The team still has five games to play at its home in Chennai. The fortress that it is, CSK can already fancy a spot in the playoffs if they maintain the current form. Despite many injuries, the team is still doing well, thanks to some fine tactics. On that note, here, we take a look at two masterstrokes by CSK in IPL 2023.
1) Using Ajinkya Rahane at No.3.
Maybe, even Ajinkya Rahane himself did not see IPL 2023 coming the way that it has. He has just been unstoppable, right from the first game that he started representing CSK. The veteran has scored a lot of runs and that too at a strike rate close to 200.
Much of it comes down to the way Rahane has been used. When they hired him, CSK could have thought of using Rahane as the backup opener. Instead, he has got a role at No.3. While he has donned the role before, this time around, Rahane is working in an environment that allows him to be aggressive. Hence, he has been productive in IPL 2023.
2) Making the perfect use of Shivam Dube’s power-hitting role
The usage of Shivam Dube is one of the masterstrokes by CSK in IPL 2023. Dube is known for his six-hitting but at the same time, he has a few weaknesses.
While he has worked on it, the situation that CSK puts him in is also very comfortable for the player. While he is given a free license, he also gets to play spinners, a favourable matchup for him. CSK found this out very quickly after having a few poor outings for Dube at the start of IPL 2023. Also, Dube has enjoyed most good partnerships with Devon Conway or Ajinkya Rahane, both of whom are brilliant against pace bowling.
