Who Replaces Kedar Jadhav In The CSK XI?
The IPL has begun and it has its first in-tournament casualty: Kedar Jadhav, CSK’s most expensive buy at the auction at a price of INR 7.8 Crores, has been ruled out for the entire season with a hamstring injury. The franchise have brought in England all-rounder David Willey as his replacement but it is not expected that he comes into the straight away. These are a few options for CSK to replace Kedar Jadhav:
Murali Vijay
Perhaps the most likely replacement for Jadhav is local lad Murali Vijay. Having played for CSK from 2009 to 2013, Vijay is all too familiar with the team and the players. Vijay in his five years scored 1600 runs at an average of 26.67 at a strike rate of 127.90, scoring two hundreds and seven fifties in his tenure.
His inclusion means Ambati Rayudu, who opened against the Mumbai Indians, can go back into the middle order, his favoured and more suited role. Vijay would suit the Chennai pitches as he is a very good player of spin. His inclusion means his potential partner Shane Watson gets a licence to play his shots freely.
Faf du Plessis
Another option for the Chennai Super Kings is the versatile South African skipper Faf du Plessis. Bought for just 1.6 Crores, du Plessis has also had past experience playing for the franchise. Having played at CSK for three years, du Plessis scored 1081 runs at an average of 30.03 at a strike rate of 128.23 with six fifties. du Plessis gives CSK an option in two ways.
Embed from Getty Images
First, he could open the innings with Watson, allowing Rayudu to come in the middle order or secondly come as a direct replacement in the batting order for Jadhav. This though would mean CSK would have to drop one of their foreign players from the first match and that will most probably be Mark Wood, who went for 49 in his four overs. He will likely be replaced by upcoming Indian star Shardul Thakur.
Sam Billings
English wicket-keeper batsman Sam Billings gives CSK a very interesting and aggressive option. Another player who can bat anywhere in the batting order, Billings has shown glimpses of his talent at his previous IPL franchise, Delhi Daredvils.
Embed from Getty Images
Boasting a strike rate of 134.52, Billings has two fifties in ten games. It is his consistency that will be under close scrutiny if he gets a chance as his average is just 22.60 in those ten games. His inclusion would also mean that CSK would need to drop one out of their four foreign players from the first match, that most probably being Mark Wood for Shardul Thakur.
Dhruv Shorey
If CSK decide to be a little adventurous, uncapped batsman Dhruv Shorey is an option. The 25-year old Delhi batsman has been in tremendous form in the domestic circuit.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s domestic T20 competition, Shorey scored 303 runs at an average of 60.60 in nine matches at a strike rate of 141.58 with three fifties. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Shorey scored 252 runs at an average of 50.40 with a hundred and a fifty. Shorey, batting in the middle order, can be used an option for CSK if they can be patient in him.
Kedar Jadhav, one of Chennai Super Kings’ most valuable players, is no longer going to participate in the tournament and that gives CSK a big task of replacing him. His last over heroics won CSK a cliffhanger against the Mumbai Indians and his absence will most definitely be felt. However, Chennai do have a few replacements in the squad and one of them would look to make most of this opportunity.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
