Matthew Hayden expects Chennai Super Kings to improve in the next IPL 2023 season after a forgettable IPL 2022 campaign. The famous batter anticipates Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni to be key for CSK.
On March 31, the reigning champion Gujarat Titans will face the Yellow Army at the Narendra Modi Stadium to begin the IPL 2023 season.
The team has consistently supported seasoned players, many of whom are towards the end of their careers, under Dhoni’s leadership, and yet the former Indian skipper has led them to four IPL championships. Given the average age of their IPL roster and the fact that Dhoni is nearing the conclusion of his career, many fans have branded CSK as “Dad’s Army.”
In addition to serving as a leader in the locker room, older players like Dhoni and Rayudu are expected to play a significant role for CSK, according to Aussie icon Hayden, who was one of the team’s main players.
Dhoni, Rayudu, as well as the knowledge of others like Ajinkya Rahane and Moeen Ali, may be able to save CSK from spending yet another season in the desert.
Hayden feels that Dhoni, 41, and Rayudu, 37, can help make a difference for their team in the IPL despite the duo’s continued success.
They have been using the phrase “They’re sort of a Dad’s Army,” which has been around for a while. A little amount of the same applies to this year, “told Star Sports, Hayden.
“MS Dhoni is at an age when he truly has to be a significant player, not merely have the potential to be the team’s captain, like Ambati Rayudu. Hence, with those two major players in particular, and their respective ages, would CSK advance or fall behind?, “said the Aussie myth.
After finishing second lowest in the points standings in both IPL 2020 and the previous season, Chennai Super Kings’ approach of supporting seasoned players has had mixed results. They did, however, take home the trophy in IPL 2021.
The average age of the CSK roster has undoubtedly decreased as a result of the departures of prominent stars like Dwayne Bravo, Chris Jordan, and Robin Uthappa, among others, and they have also added English Test captain Ben Stokes to their lineup for an eye-watering INR 16.25 crore