IPL 2021- CSK squad 2021: Despite a major rehaul of their squad, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) failed to shed its ‘Dad’s Army’ image completely. The MS Dhoni-led side will once again have the oldest players in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 season, which starts from April 9.
CSK have been called a Dad’s Army due to its ageing squad. And while they cut down the average to 30 in this year’s IPL from 32, the three-time champions will still have most of the old warhorses in their team. The Chennai franchise now have five players over 35 years of age in the squad.
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Imran Tahir (41) remains their oldest player, followed by skipper Dhoni who is currently 39. Notably, they have three players who are the youngest in the 25-men squad. Sam Curran, Harishankar Reddy and K. Bhagath Varma are all 22-years-old.
IPL 2021: How does CSK team look now?
With CSK’s abysmal performance in the IPL 2020, where they finished seventh in an eight-team competition, the thought was that the team management would go for an overhaul, beginning with an ageing Dhoni.
But CSK decided against tinkering too much with the team, retaining the core. Instead of bringing in some young players who could rejig the team’s dynamics, CSK bought Moeen Ali (33), Robin Uthappa (35), Cheteshwar Pujara (33), and Krishnappa Gowtham (32), further giving importance to experience over young blood.
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The young recruits — K Bhagath Varma (22), C Hari Nishanth (24), and Harishankar Reddy (22) — are yet to make a name for themselves in the domestic circuit. Hence, they are unlikely to get a chance. But with Imran Tahir (41), Dhoni (39), Dwayne Bravo (37), Faf du Plessis (36), and Uthappa in the squad, CSK will continue to be a Dad’s Army.
IPL 2021: Which is the youngest squad this year?
Rajasthan Royals will enter the league as the youngest team. After finishing at the bottom of the points table last year, RR overhauled their team for IPL 2021. The inaugural IPL champions made a big decision to release Steve Smith. They will build the team around a young captain Sanju Samson. RR’s average age is 25.41.
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Team’s average age in the IPL 2021:
Chennai Super Kings: 30
Kolkata Knight Riders: 28
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 28
Delhi Capitals: 28
Punjab Kings: 27
Mumbai Indians: 27
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 27
Rajasthan Royals: 25
