With Moeen Ali potentially unavailable for CSK and in the event of his release from the, we examine the role he plays in the team and potential replacements for the players. Moeen Ali was a crucial part of the CSK setup in the first half of the IP with the batting all-rounder having smashed 206 runs in 6 matches and scalped 5 wickets. He plays an important role with the ability to bat at any position in the order where he could provide heft at the top of the order or dazzling firepower towards the end of the innings along with Dhoni and Jadeja.
Further in the subcontinental and UAE conditions he is a handy wicket-taker and will get immense purchase off the pitch and could be instrumental in choking opposition runs or picking the odd wicket.
We look at the possible alternative for Moeen Ali that could be considered by CSK-
Wanindu Hasaranga
He has the potential to be an excellent leg-spinning wicket-taking option having taken 7 wickets in the three matches he played with a miserly economy of 5.58 against India. He will be a hot favorite for various franchises that would be looking to bringing him on board such as RCB which is missing the services of Adam Zampa and PBKS who may want a quality international spinner to compete with Murugan Ashwin. Hasaranga is not an ideal for like replacement for Moeen Ali as does not have the batting skills to be a true all-rounder.
Mitchell Santner
Mitchell Santner has been included in the New Zealand ICC World T20 squad and has been one of the most reliable players of the New Zealand outfit. He has experience playing in the CSK team and had a string of decent performances against Australia and Bangladesh in March particularly with the economy with which he bowled. He is an effective batsman down the order and is always in a good position to fetch an additional quick 15-20 runs for the team.
Krunal Pandya
He has been a core Mumbai Indians player since his debut in the IPL, however, being one of the players who is never typically retained he could be up for selection in the auction in which CSK should expect heavy bidding by Mumbai Indians and other franchises which may want to retain his services. He has a stellar IPL and India record in T20s and is a proven match-winner with both the bat and ball and his acquisition truly would be a coup for CSK.
David Willey
He is known as a bowling all-rounder who has been batting at top order in The Hundred for Northern Superchargers. He has had an excellent performance in The Hundred having smashed 132 runs in 7 matches and has bagged 5 wickets.
Evin Lewis
He is a strong batting replacement who is well known as a swashbuckling opening batsman having notably scored 382 runs at a strike rate of 138 in the 2018 season and could provide racing starts for CSK which has normally required some time to get going in the innings.
