In a nail-biting final that lasted almost three days, CSK trumped Gujarat Titans to clinch their fifth IPL title. They will be back this time, gunning for their sixth, as MS Dhoni potentially takes centre stage for one final time.

Going against their general nature, CSK were highly active in the auction for this season and have made some star, as well as smart, buys – including those of Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell and the return of Shardul Thakur.

MS Dhoni is back for Chennai Super Kings in his vintage hairstyle 😍

📸: @ChennaiIPL / X#MSDhoni #CSK #IPL2024 #Cricket #INDvsENG #Tests pic.twitter.com/XFEiYWpCn0

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) March 7, 2024

Chennai Super Kings squad for IPL 2024

* new buys in the auction.

Batters

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane,  Shaik Rasheed

Wicketkeepers

MS Dhoni (c), Devon Conway, Avanish Rao Aravelly*

All-rounders

Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Nishant Sindhu, Ajay Mandal, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Rachin Ravindra*, Daryl Mitchell*, Sameer Rizvi*

Bowlers

Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Mukesh Choudhary, Simarjeet Singh, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Prashant Solanki, Shardul Thakur*, Mustafizur Rahman*

CSK schedule for IPL 2024

*Schedule for only the first 21 matches of IPL 2024 have been announced so far.

Match 1: Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore, Friday, March 22, 8pm, Chennai
Match 7: Chennai Super Kings v Gujarat Titans, Tuesday, March 26, 7.30pm, Chennai
Match 13: Delhi Capitals v Chennai Super Kings, Sunday, March 31, 7.30pm, Vizag
Match 18: Sunrisers Hyderabad v Chennai Super Kings, Friday, April 5, 7.30pm, Hyderabad

*All timings local

CSK in IPL 2024: Team news and injury updates

CSK have already had a rocky start to their campaign before the tournament has even begun. Their star opener Devon Conway is all but ruled out of the entire IPL due to a fractured thumb. Shivam Dube, who was a revelation in the middle order last season, is also injured currently with no official update. And so is their main death bowler Matheesha Pathirana.

How MS Dhoni navigates this injury-stricken team in the first phase of the tournament will be interesting to see.

Chennai Super Kings probable XIs with Impact player options

At home

Probable XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana/Mustafizur Rahman.

Impact player options: Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary

In Chennai, the focus will be on spin, like always. In Ravindra, Moeen, Jadeja, and Theekshana, CSK have four good options to choose from depending on the match situation. If Pathirana is not fit, CSK have a like for like replacement in Mustafizur. For the Impact player, they can choose between Tushar Deshpande (their highest wicket-taker last season) and comeback man Mukesh Choudhary, who impressed with his left-arm swing bowling in IPL 2022.

Away:

Probable XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali/Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana/Mustafizur Rahman.

Impact player options: Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary

Outside Chennai, CSK are more likely to get flatter pitches where spin might play lesser role. They can consider playing Daryl Mitchell in place of Moeen Ali in the middle order if the left-hander doesn’t look in great nick with the bat, because his bowling might not be as useful on non-helpful tracks. The rest of the combination can remain more or less the same.