Can’t bat, can’t bowl, can’t field, that has been the story thus far for Chennai Super Kings in the Dream 11 IPL 2020 this season.
Watching the former champions and last year’s runner-up get battered and bruised in the United Arab Emirates has been painful for one and all. You do not have to be necessarily a part of the “Whistle Podu” gang to shed tears for the Chennai franchise.
The aura and romanticism associated with the Chennai franchise, led by the iconic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has been blown away this time. For lakhs of die-hard CSK fans who are based not just in Tamil Nadu but all over the world, this tournament has been one of grief and agony.
For a side which dominated the IPL all along and returned with a bang even after two years spent in wilderness, when CSK had been suspended following unwanted activity, this is the nadir for Dhoni’s team.
It is easy to gloat on past success of CSK but the reality is this side has looked jaded this time. Minus IPL superstars Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh, their campaign in the UAE has been disastrous. Add to it the dipping form of Dhoni and being unable to produce the magic runs and shots, CSK have flummoxed their fans.
The side which has a sprinkling of players over 35 years of age has found the grind in the desert very tough. Dhoni has always backed experience but this time around, his reliance on players over the hill has not worked.
To be sure, one cannot blame a few players for the disaster this year. Truth is, it has been a collective failure. As it is, we are nearing the end of October. Perhaps, if Covid-19 recedes in coming months, one can see the next edition of the IPL in India next summer.
The team owners will need to go back to the drawing board, plan wholesale changes and perhaps indulge in a lot of buying at the next auction. Someone like Ambatti Rayudu, perceived as a match-winner, was also not able to live up to the hype this time.
Back to Raina having to fly out of Dubai before the IPL commenced, there is more to it than meets the eye. The real reasons for his exit will never be verified but the reality is this IPL team has now got to rebuild.
And if that is to happen, there can be no room for emotion.
For instance, Dhoni himself may have to be dispensed with if the team owners are going to take stock of the situation. The IPL is cricket plus entertainment plus serious business.
So, where does Dhoni fit and where do the ageing stars find themselves in the mix for 2021 is anybody’s guess.
The sad part is, Dhoni has not been able to explain the losses nor has coach Stephen Fleming been able to produce the magic. It is a state of shock for CSK fans. To recover and relate to the IPL from here on will be a challenge.
There have been disaster stories before in the IPL as well with Delhi Daredevils now named Delhi Capitals and Deccan Chargers which has been rechristened as Sunrisers Hyderabad. For CSK to get its image back will be a very hard challenge.
How it happens will be interesting to watch.
Mr. S. Kannan
Senior, Sports Journalist
