IPL 2019: 3 reasons why CSK look unstoppable at home

Chennai Super Kings are the early favorites to win the IPL 2019 trophy. They are sitting pretty at the top of the IPL points table, and are looking more balanced than any other team in the league.

When it comes to their home ground, CSK are even more dominant. Due to some political reasons, their home games were shifted to Pune last year. However, the Yellow Army are back in Chepauk this year, and it looks like they will rule their home games with an iron fist.

They have won all their home games so far. We may well expect them to win all their home games this season if everything goes according to plan.

The first qualifier and the final of IPL 2019 will take place in Chennai too, unless there is a change in the schedule. Thus, everything looks positive for CSK to seize yet another trophy.

There are three important reasons why CSK look so strong when they play at the M A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Let us have a look at those reasons:

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#3 The spin attack of CSK

Harbhajan Singh and Imran Tahir (Image Courtesy: BCCI/IPLT20.COM)

Although the conditions at Chepauk stadium are hard to predict every game, spin still seems like the most effective weapon there. And when it comes to the spin department, CSK have the strongest one in the current IPL.

Their overseas leg spinner Imran Tahir is an internationally successful bowler with plenty of T20 league experience. Tahir has 63 wickets in 38 T20Is. In IPL alone, he has 60+ wickets. So far in this IPL he is having another fruitful season.

Another veteran Harbhajan Singh has the experience of playing for the Indian side and Mumbai Indians. He had also been part of the World Cup winning Indian team in 2011.

Ravindra Jadeja is another potent weapon on the Chennai pitch.

Along with the experienced spin trio CSK also have Karn Sharma, who has won trophies with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians in the past. New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner can also make an impact if given an opportunity.

#2 Batsmen suited to the conditions

Suresh Raina is the most experienced batsman in CSK (Image Courtesy: BCCI/IPLT20.COM)

CSK may not have many young and promising batsmen, but the ones that they have are perfectly suited to their home ground.

Suresh Raina has been with them since the inaugural IPL edition and has more than 5000 runs in IPL. Faf du Plessis has been with the CSK franchise since 2011 and has ample experience of playing in their home ground. Du Plessis's leadership potential and knowledge about the team would've been fatal for them if he was playing for any other franchise now.

Their previous season's top scorer Ambati Rayudu is naturally good against spin too. On the other hand, Shane Watson is a big hitter. At this stage in his career, he often relies on his strength to clear boundaries instead of rotating the strike and playing throughout.

Even benched players like Murali Vijay and Narayan Jagadeesan have experience of playing at Chennai since they are from the locality.

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#1 The captaincy of MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni is the most successful captain in the IPL (Image Courtesy: BCCI/IPLT20.COM)

Generally speaking, a team is only as good as its captain. A team with experienced players like Chennai Super Kings not only needs a proficient captain but also a successful one. In that case, no one can match the success of MS Dhoni as a captain at this point in time.

Dhoni has been the captain of CSK since the inception of IPL. Not only that, but he has also taken them to the playoffs every season they have played.

CSK have won three IPL titles under him. Thus, it can be said that no other captain can handle the Chennai pitch as well as Dhoni.

Even though KXIP skipper Ravichandran Ashwin played in Chennai for years and KKR captain Dinesh Karthik knows the pitch very well too, it is still Dhoni who has the most success in Chepauk stadium as an IPL captain. He knows what it takes to win matches here.

Also, having Dhoni in the team brings massive support from the fans. The balance of the side and the experience of the players helps them be less nervous and more focused to fulfill the expectations from all corners.

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