IPL 2023: 3 Players Who Will Be Crucial for Chennai Super Kings to Win GT vs CSK Match No. 1

IPL 2023: The history of the Indian Premier League suggests that Chennai Super Kings are the most consistent team in the tournament. They have qualified for the playoffs 11 times out of the 13 seasons they have played. However, the 2022 season was a nightmare for the team and its fans. The Yellow Army finished ninth and lost 10 of 14 games. A change in captaincy, injuries to the players, and poor performances didn’t help the cause.

But with the new season, everything looks good. CSK will begin its journey with a game against the defending champion Gujarat Titans on March 31 in Ahmedabad. With Ben Stokes in the team, Chennai has added more firepower and will be stronger. There are a number of star performers in the Chennai squad. But here we will look at the top three key players for CSK that will help them win the first game against GT.

IPL 2023: 3 Key Players for Chennai Super Kings in the GT vs CSK Match No. 1

3. Ruturaj Gaikwad

The fastest Indian batter to reach 1,000 IPL runs, Ruturaj Gaikwad will be the key for CSK in the coming season. Not just against the Gujarat Titans, Gaikwad’s form will determine many things for the four-time champion going into the tournament. He has been the highest run-getter for the franchise in the last two editions and was the prime reason for CSK winning the 2021 season.

Gaikwad made 635 runs in 2021 and 368 runs in 2022, respectively. He normally gives his team a good start and will enter the tournament with some runs under his belt. A few months back, he smashed seven sixes in one over in India’s domestic T20 competition. Thus, for CSK, Gaikwad holds the key at the top.

2. Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja is one of the few players with multi-dimensional skills, which sets him apart from other cricketers. He was always a good bowler, but his batting has improved dramatically in the last 2–3 years. Jadeja joined the CSK camp in 2012 and has since proven to be a match-winner for the team. That was the reason the franchise appointed him as the captain of the team ahead of the 2022 edition.

But things didn’t go as planned, and the injury ruled him out of the competition. Now that he is back and has some good international performances under his belt, the all-rounder will like to start the tournament with a good performance. And if he gets going, he will play good cameos and bowl good offers, which can make the difference between CSK and GT in the first game.

1. Ben Stokes

The biggest name that entered the IPL auction 2023 was the English test captain Ben Stokes. He was the hot pick in the auction held in Kochi in December 2022. And it was the Chennai franchise that won the bidding war and acquired him for INR 16.5 crore. Stokes has been the standout performer at the international level, and some glimpses of that were given in the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup against Pakistan in a tricky chase.

And after getting the test captaincy, he has also matured as a performer. He is probably the best all-rounder in the entire IPL 2023. Thus, his all-around ability will be the biggest threat to Gujarat. Stokes has played 43 IPL games and scored 920 runs, including two centuries and two fifties. He has also taken 28 wickets at 8.55.