IPL 2020 training session saw Chennai Super Kings (CSK) players, along with their fascinating leader — MS Dhoni, left their team hotel in Chennai on Friday after participating in a short training camp before boarding their flight to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Chennai-based franchise shared with their fans a glimpse of their favourite cricketers practicing hard ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.
Chennai Super Kings served a two-year suspension from IPL 2016 and IPL 2017 before coming back as winners in 2018. They have won IPL three times in 2010,2011 and 2018 besides also winning CLT20 in 2010 and 2014. They are second only to Mumbai Indians in terms of trophy victories — and hold the record of most appearances in playoffs and final of the IPL.
IPL 2020 Practice Session Of CSK Ends On A High Note After Suresh Raina Whistles
In the practice session before IPL 2020, some of CSK’s most notable players like Deepak Chahar, Suresh Raina and Piyush Chawla were seen in action but it was their skipper MS Dhoni who was in focus with his swash backing style of batting.
The former wicketkeeper-batsman looked in ominous touch as he hit sixes as per his will. CSK tweeted that the camp missed the fans very much, but the camp ended on a high note after Suresh Raina who was so impressed by seeing MS Dhoni hitting a six that he celebrated it by doing a whistle celebration.
It is to be noted that MS Dhoni had captained CSK from the inaugural year 2008 of IPL whereas Suresh Raina who holds the record for most consecutive appearances for CSK is the first-ever cricketer to reach 5000 runs in IPL. Both of the players were in the headlines after hanging up their boots from the international arena on the same Independence Day. However, the duo will be seen in action in IPL 2020.
IPL 2020 To See Shane Watson And Harbhajan Singh Performing For CSK Yet Again
CSK shared pictures of MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja as they prepared to leave for the UAE earlier in the day while veteran experienced off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will not travel with the rest of the CSK squad on Friday citing personal reasons. He expects to join his teammates within the next 2 days or so.
Harbhajan Singh who was the first Indian cricketer to take a Test hat-trick last played for India in 2016. He plays for CSK from 2018 after representing Mumbai Indians from 2008 to 2017. He has featured in 103 Tests, 236 ODI and 28 T20Is where he picked up 417,269 and 25 wickets.
Former Australian experienced all-rounder Shane Watson, who will play for CSK has already arrived in the UAE and has even started his seven-day quarantine in the hotel.
Shane Watson, who retired from international cricket in 2016 as world’s number one all-rounder was the Man of the Series or the Most Valuable Player in 2009 champions trophy, 2012 world T20,2008 IPL and 2013 IPL.
Watson also played till 2016 and is also aged 39 like Indian spin wizard Harbhajan Singh. Shane Watson has featured in Rajasthan Royals squad from 2008 to 2015 and in Royal Challengers Bangalore squad in 2016 and 2017 before moving to CSK.
CSK, who lost to Mumbai Indians in the final last year, will begin their campaign against the same opponents on September 19 and would look to win that match and lift the trophy for the fourth time equaling Mumbai India’s record.
Chennai Super Kings will look to win as they have Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, Lungi Ngidi, Sam Curran, Faf Du Plessis, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Santner, Piyush Chawla, Imran Tahir, Kedar Jadhav, Murali Vijay, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni himself in their ranks.