If there is one team that can compete with Mumbai Indians on a scale of sheer dominance in the IPL, then it has to be the Chennai Super Kings. A team built by Dhoni and around his brand has almost made it to the playoffs in every season. They won the IPL trophy thrice and made it to the finals innumerable times. Just as MI has a fixed core of players around whom the team dynamics revolve, similarly for CSK too, the core has remained constant.
However, over the years, a lot of players have been bought and sold without them setting the stage on fire at CSK. Either the players did not get an opportunity to display their skill due to lack of place in the team or they were woefully out of form to perform.
We look at 5 players who have otherwise excelled elsewhere but did not leave a significant mark in CSK :
1. Jason Holder
The ex-captain of the Windies and considered as one of the world 2013. Holder had pace and bounce as a seamer and could also play a handy role as a batsman. However, he could not deliver on the premise he was picked on. He was released after one season on the back of lackluster performance and has later gone onto play for SRH and Punjab.
2. Andrew Tye
Tye was bought by CSK in 2015 but played his first match only in 2017 when he left CSK. For a T20 death bowling specialist, Tye’s services were not used by Dhoni even once during his stay at CSK. He has become a world-class death bowler in T20 cricket. He should have been developed as CSK’s death bowling pacer which is one area the team is lacking.
3. Mark Wood
Wood was a lethal fast-paced bowler. On a slow-pitch like Chennai, Wood’s unmatchable pace could have been the ex-factor. He arrived at CSK in 2018 as their main fast bowling option. He did play a match but was out due to injury. CSK should have stuck with him and Wood should have been a permanent feature of their squad.
4. Chris Morris
CSK had a solid seam-bowling all-rounder in the form of Albie Morkel in 2011-2014. He was vital for the team and played crucial innings. As a replacement, they had drafted Morris into the squad in 2013. However, he only played with them for a couple of seasons. His six-hitting abilities and bowling yorkers in the death could have been better utilized by Dhoni. Morris was released and went on play for Delhi, Rajasthan among other franchises.
5. Sam Billings
After coming back from their suspension, Billings became part of CSK in 2018-19. He managed to play some eye-catching innings and popped some unbelievable catches. However, Billings could never become their mainstay in the team and was soon released in the auction. He has subsequently been part of SRH as well as the Delhi Capitals.
