The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was one of the most highly competitive seasons. We witnessed the fall of the Chennai Super Kings as the ever-ageing franchise failed to make it to the playoffs. Adding on, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lacked the intent when it came to chasing a total. The fans were dejected by the team’s performance.

Apart from CSK, every other team had an interesting IPL season. The Kings XI Punjab came from nowhere and ended up defeating the tournament giants. KL Rahul emerged as a leader of the group while Chris Gayle backed him excellently. Mumbai Indians were dominant throughout the season whereas the Delhi Capitals managed to reach the finals for the very first time.

This year, the fans will be hoping for a better performance from the men in yellow. The management went into the auction to include a few new names in their squad while maintaining their core. The Chennai squad looks stronger than the last season.

Here&#8217;s the strongest CSK playing XI after the IPL 2021 Auction:

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-460431" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ruturaj-Gaikwad-1.jpg" alt="Ruturaj Gaikwad" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-460431" class="wp-caption-text">Ruturaj Gaikwad. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/vijay-hazare-trophy-2021-ruturaj-gaikwad-named-as-captain-of-maharashtra-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ruturaj Gaikwad</a> was not a part of the Chennai Squad during the initial phase of the tournament. However, a series of poor performances from the senior members of the squad meant that he got his opportunity. Well, he had a poor start as he was out for a duck during a game against the eventual champions, the Mumbai Indians. During that encounter against Mumbai, the Chennai batting had failed.

The turnaround for Ruturaj was when he moved on from his failure. Later on, in the five matches, he scored 204 runs for the Super Kings. This meant that he stood up to MS Dhoni&#8217;s trust and therefore became the anchor of the CSK batting lineup. With strong performances, he solidified his place in the batting lineup.

Ruturaj has a strike rate of 120.71 in the IPL. Well, do not let the stats confuse you! This young batsman can score boundaries at will and he can play the role which Mike Hussey used to do for the Chennai Super Kings. It is of no doubt that he will open the innings for the Super Kings this time. Therefore, Ruturaj makes it to this playing eleven!

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-461384" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Faf-du-Plessis.jpg" alt="Faf du Plessis" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-461384" class="wp-caption-text">Faf du Plessis. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

The Chennai Super Kings management is well known for keeping its core constant over the years. And to make any changes to its core, they try to release a single player and rope in another player to stabilize the team. Over the years, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/faf-du-plessis-announces-retirement-from-test-cricket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Faf du Plessis</a> has been the core of the batting unit for the Chennai Super Kings. He can accelerate the innings at will.

This makes him a dangerous player. Over 84 IPL games, Faf has scored 2302 runs with the highest score of 96. Last year, when every batsman was failing to put on some runs on the board, Faf amassed 449 runs. He has been a consistent scorer for the men in yellow since 2012.

Last year was his most productive season. After retiring from Test cricket, he now looks to focus on the shortest format of the game. And with the T20 World Cup knocking on the door, this is the best opportunity to find some form. Therefore, Faf is our opener in this lineup.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-449491" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-of-Chennai-Super-Kings.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina of Chennai Super Kings" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449491" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina of Chennai Super Kings (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Probably the greatest IPL batsman, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-want-to-be-the-best-wicketkeeper-batsman-in-the-world-when-rishabh-pant-opened-up-with-suresh-raina/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suresh Raina</a> will be forever remembered for his knock against the then Kings XI Punjab during the second qualifier. Because of his blistering knock, the Chennai Super Kings reached 100 in just six overs. Well, this is just an overlook of his batting abilities. Raina, as a player, was a great asset to the Indian Cricket Team as well!

Talking about his experience, he has played in 193 IPL matches so far. During his career, he has scored 5368 runs with a healthy strike rate of 137.14. And there has been no season in which Raina has scored less than 350 runs! Talk about an impactful player, well Raina will top the charts!

Apart from his batting, he is a useful part-time bowler as well. He has an economy rate of 7.38, which is impressive in every aspect. In a game where dot balls are more important, Raina can bowl in a couple of overs. It is of no doubt that the Super Kings missed him last season. Therefore, he makes it to this playing eleven!

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-459183" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ambati-Rayudu.jpg" alt="Ambati Rayudu" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-459183" class="wp-caption-text">Ambati Rayudu. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Ambati Rayudu is another batsman who has been impactful over the years. He has helped Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings to lift the trophy. Although he was unable to cement his place in the India squad, he has been a regular member of the Chennai Super Kings batting lineup. His stellar performances had helped the Super Kings to clinch the trophy in 2018.

He has played in over 159 <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/tag/ipl-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL</a> games and has scored 19 half-centuries so far. With 3659 runs under his belt, he can pace the innings according to the situation and can hold on to one end. Last year, he had a decent IPL season as he scored 359 runs with a healthy average of 39.88. Although a lack of intent did attract some criticism, Rayudu is a vital member of this lineup.

With a few new faces in the squad, Rayudu has the chance to redeem himself. The domestic superstar has also scored a century in this league and can score quickie when needed. Therefore, he is the perfect man for Dhoni as he can stabilize the innings whenever a wicket will fall. Hence, he makes it to this playing eleven!

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-373799" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Moeen-Ali.jpg" alt="Moeen Ali" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-373799" class="wp-caption-text">Moeen Ali. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

It is almost certain that <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/all-rounders-are-on-hot-seat-twitter-erupts-as-csk-ropes-in-moeen-ali-for-inr-7-crore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moeen Ali</a>’s Test career is in jeopardy. Well, when we talk about the limited-overs format, he is England&#8217;s most important player in the subcontinent conditions. The fluent left-handed batsman is a terrific player of spin bowling and can demolish any bowling attack on a given day.

MS Dhoni likes to operate with spin bowling. And, Moeen could be the x-factor for the Super Kings this season. Although he has experience of only 19 games, he has a humongous strike rate of 158.46. The highest score of 66 implies that he can score at a quick rate which means there is &#8220;intent&#8221; in this lineup!

Talking about his bowling, Ali has an economy rate of 7.13. And this will help Dhoni whenever a strike bowler will have a bad day at the office. This year, the Chennai attack looks formidable as they will play in India, which will provide a favorable condition to the spinners. Hence, Moeen Ali should be a part of the Chennai lineup.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-454472" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-4.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-454472" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Well, this is a no-brainer! The only thing which might provide some headaches to the die-hard CSK fans is Dhoni’s batting position! However, the best position for <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/chennai-super-kings-camp-sports-ms-dhoni-inspired-definitely-not-t-shirts-at-ipl-2021-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MS Dhoni</a> in this lineup is at number six. This is mainly because Dhoni’s ability to accelerate at will might provide relation to Moeen Ali.

Over the years, Dhoni has been the backbone of the CSK lineup. Along with Raina, he has rescued them from the most difficult circumstances, and hence, he has been an influential figure in the CSK squad. During his IPL career, Dhoni has scored 4632 runs with a healthy average of 40.99. And a strike rate of 136.75 is just a glimmer of what he can do on his day!

Talking about his captaincy, under his leadership, the Super Kings have managed to clinch the trophy thrice. And it is Dhoni who is the kernel of the core group of Chennai Super Kings. Well, it might be one of the last seasons for the iconic Indian wicketkeeper. Therefore, he is the captain and the wicketkeeper of this squad.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-447052" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/PicsArt_09-20-11.19.00_resize_24.jpg" alt="Sam Curran of CSK" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-447052" class="wp-caption-text">Sam Curran of CSK (Photo source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sam-curran-set-to-miss-third-test-against-india-keeping-in-mind-bio-bubble-fatigue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sam Curran</a> was one of the most influential performers for the Chennai Super Kings last year. The English all-rounder was bought in by the Punjab franchise for INR 7.2 crore. However, lack of opportunities meant that he was released from the squad. Then, the CSK management offered him INR 5.5 crore and the rest is history for Curran!

In a season where most of the Super Kings members failed, Curran stood up and played exceptionally well. Of the 14 matches he played, Curran scored 186 runs and took 13 wickets. While bowling during the powerplay overs, he managed to put the batsmen under pressure. Apart from that, Curran is an excellent fielder and this helps him to cement his place in the squad.

Curran is a future core member of the Chennai Super Kings. His performance against Mumbai Indians showcases his talent to bat during difficult conditions. He improved his bowling drastically in 2020. And the best bowling figures of 4/11 showcases that he is a match-winner with the ball too! Therefore, he is the first typical all-rounder in this list as he can open the inning for CSK too.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-460437" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravindra-Jadeja-3.jpg" alt="Ravindra Jadeja" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-460437" class="wp-caption-text">Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ben-stokes-vs-ravindra-jadeja-statistical-comparison-on-who-is-better-all-rounder-in-international-cricket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ravindra Jadeja</a> is the most vital member of the Indian cricket team right now. He has excelled in every sector of the game and is saving the team from difficult circumstances. Well, there is no doubt that he is the most important player in this lineup too! And the performances under pressure make him one of the best all-rounders in the world at the moment.

Jadeja has played over 184 IPL matches since 2008. While batting lower down the order, he has scored over 2159 runs with a decent strike rate of 126.47. And his batting technique has been improving every year, which means that only an injury can force him to warm the benches. It is certain that he is the go-to man for Dhoni this season.

Talking about his bowling, Jadeja has been a successful bowler over the years. An economy rate of 7.67 is acceptable in this batsman-friendly game. Adding on, he has taken a 5 wicket haul in this tournament too! Also, his fielding is top class, which adds on an extra cushion for the bowlers. Therefore, Jadeja makes it to the playing eleven.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-419949" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-and-Shardul-Thakur.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni and Shardul Thakur" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-419949" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni and Shardul Thakur. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/when-shardul-thakur-decided-not-to-share-ravi-shastris-advice-with-ravi-ashwin-and-hanuma-vihari-at-scg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shardul Thakur</a> was a member of the Indian team who went on to defeat the Aussies at their den. Well, his performance down under gives a glimpse of his “never give up” character as he scored a beautiful half-century during the first innings at the Gabba. Last year has been an eventful one for the Mumbai lad! Hence, the fans will be hoping for a stellar performance from him this season.

Talking about his IPL performances, Shardul has played in 45 IPL matches so far. In those matches, he has picked up 46 wickets with an economy rate of 8.92. The economy rate is a bit on the higher side mainly because of the adverse circumstances. He is the bowler who is heavily backed by Dhoni and has grown over the years.

Adding on, Shardul has shown that he can bat too! For the Super Kings, he scored a couple of valuable boundaries during the first qualifier against the Surisers in the 2018 season. Also, he can compliment Curran and other bowlers during any stage of the game. Therefore, he makes it to this playing eleven!

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-446434" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Deepak-Chahar-of-CSK.jpg" alt="Deepak Chahar of CSK" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-446434" class="wp-caption-text">Deepak Chahar. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)</figcaption>

In the upcoming season, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/fittest-player-at-48-malti-trolls-brother-deepak-chahar-over-age-on-wikipedia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deepak Chahar</a> will start the innings with the ball for the Chennai Super Kings. The seamer can bowl economically during the initial phase of the inning. An economy rate of 7.62 is perfect for a bowler who bowls at a medium pace and is dependent on his accuracy. And under the guidance of Dhoni, Chahar has found his home at the Chennai Super Kings!

The seamer has picked up 45 wickets with an average of 28.24. As he bowls during a crucial phase of the game, where the batsmen like to decimate a bowling attack, Chahar has a strike rate of 22.22. Well, as he played for the CSK franchise, he has grown as a bowler. And a national side call-up also speaks volumes about his ability.

Chahar has been a part of the franchise for three years. In 2018, he picked up 10 wickets with an economy rate of 7.28. In 2019, he had a stellar season as he picked up 22 wickets with an economy rate of 7.47. During a season where every bowler was at the receiving end, Chahar bowled with an economy rate of 7.61! Therefore, he is an economical bowler who builds pressure from one end.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-340709" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Imran-Tahir-2.jpg" alt="Imran Tahir" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-340709" class="wp-caption-text">Imran Tahir. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)</figcaption>

Last year, the Chennai Super Kings had a horrible IPL season. They failed to cash in during the vital moments of the matches and hence, they failed to accumulate points during the league stage of the tournament. Also, the poor performance and lack of rotation policy hampered their performance significantly. This also meant that Tahir played only three games for the Super Kings.

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/imran-tahir-heaps-praises-for-his-chennai-super-kings-captain-ms-dhoni/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Imran Tahir</a> has been an exceptional performer for the franchise. Of the 58 matches he has played, Tahir has picked up 80 wickets with an impressive economy rate of 7.83. Adding on, he was instrumental in 2019 as he picked 26 wickets! Imran still has a couple of years’ cricket left in him. Imran can be a match-winner on any given day!

And the time has come for Imran to feature regularly in the playing eleven. For a spinner who was crowned as the best T20I bowler at the age of 37, it is a matter of time that he finds his mojo back. The fans must be hoping that the leg spinner gets some help from the Chennai pitch this time! Therefore, he makes it to this playing eleven.

CSK picked six players in the IPL 2021 auction.

IPL 2021: Best Predicted Playing XI of Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Here's the strongest predicted playing XI of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the IPL 2021 after the auction on CricTracker.

IPL 2021: Best Predicted Playing XI of Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

CSK picked six players in the IPL 2021 auction.

3. Suresh Raina