The Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are two of the most powerful franchises in Indian Premier League history. MI have won the competition five times in the 15 editions of the cash-rich league played so far, while CSK have won it four times. However, the two marquee teams were nowhere near their vintage selves last season, winning only four of the 14 league games.
MI and CSK both want to put their best foot forward in the forthcoming season and prove their worth. Both teams are loaded with top-tier players that can turn the game in their favour, and it would not be surprising if either of them goes all the way in IPL 2023. Let us put up a great team of players from the top two IPL franchises.
Here is the best IPL 2023 combined MI-CSK XI.
Number 1. Ruturaj Gaikwad
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This 25-year-old sensation made his IPL debut in 2020 and has been on fire, scoring a massive 1207 runs in just 36 matches for Chennai Super Kings with a strike rate of 130.35. He’s been the backbone of their top order, providing the team with some electrifying starts.
Gaikwad has a rare ability to hold the innings together with his elegance and grace. He sets the tone for the rest of the batsmen to express themselves freely. But don’t be fooled by his silky touch, this ace batter can unleash his aggression and take on the best of bowlers with ease.
However, in the 15th edition of the IPL, Gaikwad had a bit of a dip in form. He could only manage 368 runs in 14 matches with a strike rate of 126.46. But, we’re sure the CSK management is hoping for a comeback from this elegant batter in the upcoming season.
Number 2. Rohit Sharma
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This batting behemoth has a truckload of runs to his name across formats and is a force to be reckoned with.
With 148 T20Is under his belt, Rohit has scored 3853 runs with a strike rate of 139.24. And in ODIs, he’s featured in a staggering 233 matches, scoring 9376 runs with a strike rate of 89.18. But wait, there’s more! This 35-year-old batting maestro has been a king in the IPL arena as well, notching up a mind-boggling 5879 runs with a strike rate of 129.89. He’s got all the shots in the book and can dismantle the best of bowlers with his effortless stroke play.
But what sets Rohit apart from others is not just his batting prowess but also his cool and collected demeanour. He’s proven his leadership abilities time and time again, leading the Mumbai Indians to an unparalleled five IPL titles, making them the most successful team in the competition’s history.
Number 3. Suryakumar Yadav
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Suryakumar Yadav has taken the cricketing world by storm and left a trail of destruction wherever he’s played, be it in the international arena or the Indian Premier League. He’s known for his 360-degree stroke play and his ability to take on the best of bowlers.
With 45 appearances for India in the T20 format, Suryakumar has smashed 1578 runs with a strike rate of 180.34. And when it comes to the cash-rich IPL, this 32-year-old batting powerhouse has amassed 2644 runs in 123 matches with a strike rate of 136.78.
Suryakumar has been an integral part of the Mumbai Indians team. Batting at the top, he’s a force to be reckoned with and has the ability to shift the game in his team’s favour right from the start. He was unstoppable in the last season, scoring 303 runs in just eight games with a strike rate of 145.67.
Number 4. Moeen Ali
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Moeen Ali is one of the most prominent figures in the shortest format of the game, with 263 appearances and 5601 runs at a mind-boggling strike rate of 142.46. But wait, it doesn’t just stop there, he’s also been a force to be reckoned with on the bowling front, snagging 175 wickets at an economical rate of 7.65.
And if you thought that’s impressive, just wait till you hear about his IPL record. This England all-rounder has been putting up a batting masterclass and has amassed 910 runs in 44 matches with a strike rate of 143.99. And oh boy, don’t forget about his bowling prowess, with 24 wickets in those games.
Moeen joined the Chennai Super Kings at the 2021 IPL auction and has been associated with the four-time champions ever since. He’s a game-changer for CSK with both bat and ball, and he delivered in the last season as well. The left-hander scored 244 runs in just 10 matches with a strike rate of 137.85 and took eight wickets with an economy of 6.63.
Number 5. Ben Stokes
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rewrite the following in Rajeev Makhni’s manner – Ben Stokes is undoubtedly the best all-rounder in the world right now. He has won matches for England with both bat and ball in all formats. In T20Is, the 31-year-old has scored 533 runs at a strike rate of 130.63 while taking 25 wickets at an economy rate of 8.40.
Stokes’ jaw-dropping performances have also lit up the IPL arena. The New Zealander has appeared in 43 games and scored 920 runs at a strike rate of 134.50. In addition, he has 28 scalps at an economy of 8.56 in those outings.
At the IPL 2023 auction, Chennai Super Kings went hammer and tongs to sign the ace all-rounder, eventually paying an outrageous sum of INR 16.25 crore. The team’s management hopes that the England all-rounder will put on an all-round performance in the coming season.
Number 6. Ravindra Jadeja
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Ravindra Jadeja has been a colossus in the lucrative T20 tournament. The star all-rounder has played 210 games and scored 2502 runs with a strike rate of 127.59. He has 132 wickets to his name with an economy rate of 7.61.
Jadeja has been with the Chennai Super Kings since 2012 and is a crucial element of the team. He was entrusted with the duty of finisher and performed admirably. Furthermore, with his regular lines and lengths, the 34-year-old has strangled hitters and offered key breakthroughs to his side.
However, Jadeja was far from his best in the 15th edition of the IPL. He only managed to score 116 runs in 10 games with a strike rate of 118.37 and only five wickets. The southpaw would be eager to better his performance in the coming season.
Number 7. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
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MS Dhoni is widely regarded as one of the finest Indian cricketers of all time. Whether in international cricket or the Indian Premier League, the 41-year-old has demolished bowling attacks with his marauding bat and turned cricket into his happy hunting ground.
Dhoni has played in 234 IPL games, scoring 4978 runs at a strike rate of 135.20. Also, the veteran cricketer is a wise leader, and CSK has emerged as the most consistent team in IPL history, winning the event four times and finishing as runners-up five times.
Though Dhoni is towards the end of his career, he displayed flashes of brilliance with the bat last season, scoring 232 runs in 14 games at a strike rate of 123.40. The 16th IPL season is expected to be the iconic cricketer’s final season, and if that is the case, the wicketkeeper-batter will be anxious to cap off his illustrious career with a title victory.
Number 8. Deepak Chahar
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In the cash-rich league, Deepak Chahar has been a constant performer. The 30-year-old has made the ball talk at the start of the innings and has set the tone with the new ball, allowing his team to make early inroads. In addition, he is an excellent batsman who has made key contributions at the bottom of the order.
Chahar has appeared in 63 IPL games, taking 59 wickets with an economy of 7.8. He has 79 runs with a strike rate of 138.60 with the bat. In international cricket, he has taken 29 wickets at an economy rate of 8.17 and scored 53 runs with a strike rate of 203.84.
CSK went insane to re-sign the Indian pacer at the 2022 super auction, paying a hefty INR 14 crore. However, the investment was futile because Chahar was unable to compete owing to a back problem. The bowling all-rounder will be eager to make an impression in the upcoming IPL season.
Number 9. Jofra Archer
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Jofra Archer has been a reliable name in the game’s shortest format. The 27-year-old has played 121 T20 games and taken 153 wickets at an economy rate of 7.65. Furthermore, he is no slouch with the bat, having scored 551 runs at a strike rate of 147.72.
Archer has shown off his bowling prowess in the lucrative T20 league. With his ferocious pace, he has scared hitters and taken 46 wickets at an economy of 7.13. He has also contributed with the bat, scoring 195 runs with a strike rate of 157.26.
Archer was signed by the Mumbai Indians at the 2022 mega auction for INR 8 crore, however he was unable to play in the previous edition due to an elbow injury. He is set to play in the 2023 season, and the think tank is hoping the England pacer causes havoc with the ball.
Number 10. Jasprit Bumrah
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Jasprit Bumrah is one of the best white-ball seamers in the world. He has made 60 appearances for India in the shortest format and has 70 wickets at an economy of 6.63, which is fairly impressive given that he bowls a lot in the tail end of the innings.
Bumrah has set the cash-rich league on fire. The ace pacer has been dangerous with the new ball and flawless in slog overs. He has played 120 IPL games and has 145 wickets at an economy of 7.39.
Bumrah has been the Mumbai Indians’ go-to man with the ball when they need wickets, and he has delivered on most occasions. However, he failed not to live up to his great expectations in IPL 2022, taking 15 wickets in 14 games. The think tank anticipates that their elite pacer will be at his best in the upcoming edition.
Number 11. Maheesh Theekshana
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Maheesh Theekshana has been a regular for Sri Lanka in the game’s shortest version. The 22-year-old has played 35 T20Is and taken 32 wickets at a 6.79 economy rate. He has perplexed hitters with his variations and generated critical breakthroughs for his team.
Theekshana is a unique breed of spinner who has mastered the skill of bowling in both the powerplay and the death overs. This makes him a tremendous asset to any team. The mystery spinner was purchased by Chennai Super Kings in the 2022 super auction, and the Colombo-born spun his magic with the ball.
Theekshana appeared in nine games and got 12 wickets at a 7.46 economy rate. CSK noticed potential in the Sri Lankan spinner and signed him for the 2023 season. The teenager would aim to reward the franchise’s confidence by putting on a show with the ball.
