IPL 2023: 3 Players Who Can Play the Role of Dwayne Bravo In CSK Squad

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is one of the most decorated and successful franchises in the world. Under the Charismatic leadership of MS Dhoni, the team has won the coveted IPL trophy on four occasions- The second most in the history of the League. Barring two seasons (2020, 2022), they have qualified for the playoffs in every season. One of the key reasons behind their success is Dwayne Bravo.

The Caribbean all-rounder joined the Yellow Army in 2011 and as they say, the rest is history. Since his debut for CSK, Dwayne Bravo became an integral part of the team and also MS Dhoni’s one of the most trusted lieutenants. With 183 scalps in 161 games at an average of 23.82, he is the highest wicket-taker in the history of the cash-rich league. Also, he is the highest wicket-taker for CSK with 140 scalps at 22.47.

Bravo contributed immensely with the bat as well. The dynamic right-handed batter scored 1,560 runs at 22.61 with the help of five fifties. During his prime, he was one of the best outfielders in the game.  With age not by his side, CSK released the West Indian all-rounder ahead of the IPL 2023 auction. The franchise announced that will continue his journey with the team as the bowling coach.  CSK will deadly miss Bravo on the field. In this listicle, we look at the three CSK players that can fill Dwayne Bravo’s boots in the IPL 2023.

3 Players Who Can Play the Role of Dwayne Bravo In CSK Squad For IPL 2023

3) Dwaine Pretorius

Pretorius is a proven performer in T20s and after a decent outing last year, he was retained by the Yellow Army. The retention indicates CSK is looking at Pretorius as a possible successor of Bravo. Dwaine Pretorius had picked six wickets in as many matches at an average of 35 at a strike rate of 21. In five innings with the bat, the right-handed batter scored just 44 runs at a strike rate of 157.14, including a famous cameo against Mumbai Indians in a tricky run-chase.

Much like Bravo, Pretorius is a death-over specialist, who’s got many variations up his sleeves. He can also operate with the ball in the middle overs. In absence of Bravo, the talented Proteas cricketer could step up with the bat and ball, and he would also provide CSK with a good option to bowl those slog overs.

2) Deepak Chahar

This will be a comeback season for Deepak Chahar, who missed out on the IPL 2023 due to a back injury. His absence proved to be a decisive factor as CSK didn’t manage to qualify for the playoffs. Chahar can swing the ball upfront in the powerplay overs at a decent pace and can trouble the best of the batters. Many times it has been found that Dhoni bowls him out inside the first ten overs. But with Bravo not there, Dhoni might have to use him at the death. Currently, he’s the most senior pacer in the squad. In his IPL career, Chahar has taken 59 wickets from 63 games at an average of 29.19.

Notably, 43 of his 59 wickets have come in the powerplay overs. Primarily a bowler, Chahar has proven his worth with the bat on a few occasions for India. He’s a decent batter in the lower-middle order. Not as explosive as Bravo was, but still good enough to accumulate runs batting down the order.

1) Ben Stokes 

Stokes may not be a like-to-like replacement for Bravo given that he’s a batting all-rounder and the West Indian was regarded as a bowling all-rounder but will give a lot of flexibility to the four-time IPL winners. With the bat, he is more worthy than Bravo at the moment.  He can play across the batting order although CSK would want him to use as a pinch hitter.

On the flip side, with the ball, he’s good but not as great as Bravo was. A proven performer at the top level across all formats, Ben Stokes might not be as effective as Bravo was with the ball but in the past, he has shown that he can operate in the death overs with the ball. It will all come down to how Dhoni will use Stokes as a bowler.

His power-hitting and ability to play according to the situation, coupled with brilliant bowling prowess will benefit CSK immensely. With Stokes’ arrival, CSK have filled a huge gap. He could be a good addition to a side that already boasts two quality all-rounders – Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali.