Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced one of their worst defeats on April 11 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, registering their lowest total ever at the venue. The team collapsed in the batting department, barely scraping past the 100-run mark. Post the loss, former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth slammed the top-order’s approach to the innings. Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway failed to capitalize, with both players getting dismissed cheaply. After five overs, CSK found themselves at a precarious 18 for 2.
Srikkanth couldn’t hide his frustration and compared the powerplay batting to a rehearsal for a Test match. He even suggested that CSK should look at some unsold players to address their powerplay issues and named Prithvi Shaw as a potential option.
“One of CSK’s worst defeats ever. Powerplay batting looked like a rehearsal for a test match. The whole XI feels like it’s running on nostalgia. Time to think out of the box, why not try some unsold players like Prithvi Shaw at this point? Would you try it? Even chaos is a strategy?”
Shaw, who went unsold at the mega auction despite having a base price of Rs 75 lakh, could be a good option to boost the team’s aggressive start. The 25-year-old has been a standout performer for Delhi Capitals (DC) in his IPL career, scoring 1,892 runs in 79 innings at an average of 23.94, with 14 half-centuries. His strike rate in the IPL is an impressive 147.46, making him a strong contender for a powerplay role.
Notably, Shaw’s best season came in 2021, where he scored 479 runs from 15 innings, including four fifties. In the DY Patil T20 tournament, which featured several IPL players, Shaw also showed his power-hitting skills.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that CSK have called 17-year-old Mumbai opener Ayush Mhatre for mid-season trials. Though Mhatre is yet to debut in T20 cricket, his impressive List A record, where he averages over 65 with two centuries and a fifty from seven innings, makes him an exciting prospect.
CSK also have a few promising uncapped players in their squad. Vansh Bedi and Andre Siddharth are among those waiting for a chance to make their debuts. It remains to be seen whether CSK will take a bold step in their bid to revive their season.
