Chennai Super Kings will be looking to add to their trophy cabinet this season as defending champions. The Lions have now won five IPL titles.he Mumbai Indians have also won the IPL five times, which is one of the reasons why the clash between the two is called ‘El Clasico’ of the IPL 2024 Squad .Both franchises took advantage of the IPL 2024 auction on December 19 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai to reinforce their squads.
This piece will look at and compare the teams of the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and the is better Mumbai Indians (MI) for the 2024 IPL Squad. We will look at each team’s key players and see which one has the better team.
IPL 2024 Squad Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Having won the IPL five times, CSK is undoubtedly one of the most successful franchises in history. Their consistent performances and strong team ethos have earned them the reputation of being a force to be reckoned with. Here’s a closer look at the IPL 2024 Squad composition.
Squad Composition
Wicketkeepers: MS Dhoni, Devon Conway (NZ), Avanish Rao Aravelly.
Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shaik Rasheed, Ajinkya Rahane, Sameer Rizvi.
All-rounders: Moeen Ali (ENG), Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner (NZ), Ajay Mandal, Nishant Sindhu, Rachin Ravindra (NZ), Daryl Mitchell (NZ), Shardul Thakur.
Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana (SL), Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana (SL), Mustafizur Rahman (BAN), Mukesh Choudhary.
CSK players bought at IPL 2024 auction
| Players | Price |
|---|---|
| Rachin Ravindra | Rs. 1.8 crore |
| Shardul Thakur | Rs. 4 crore |
| Daryl Mitchell | Rs. 14 crore |
| Sameer Rizvi | Rs. 8.40 crore |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Rs. 2 crore |
| Avanish Rao Aravelly | Rs. 20 lakh |
CSK had a clear game plan in mind when entering the IPL 2024 auction, which included the addition of Rachin Ravindra to IPL 2024 squad.
However, this has now presented a selection dilemma, as they have to decide between Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, and Devon Conway. The opening pair is a cause for concern, especially with Ajinkya Rahane not being a regular opener.
Additionally, the team must adhere to the rule of only playing four foreign players in the playing XI, which may affect Mitchell Santner’s chances. In such a situation, Captain MS Dhoni’s role becomes crucial in managing the squad. On a positive note, CSK can rely on their formidable bowling attack comprising Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, and Ravindra Jadeja
IPL 2024 Squad Mumbai Indians (MI)
As one of the most successful IPL franchises with five titles under its belt, MI is known for its astute team management and nurturing of young talent. Let’s take a look at the MI IPL 2024 squad.
Squad Composition
Wicketkeepers: Ishan Kishan, Vishnu Vinod.
Batters: Rohit Sharma, Tim David (AUS), Suryakumar Yadav, N. Tilak Varma, Dewald Brevis (SA).
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Romario Shepherd (WI), Nehal Wadhera, Shams Mulani, Gerald Coetzee (SA), Mohammad Nabi (AFG), Shivalik Sharma, Naman Dhir.
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Jason Behrendorff (AUS), Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Arjun Tendulkar, Piyush Chawla, Dilshan Madushanka (SL), Nuwan Thushara (SL), Anshul Kamboj, Shreyas Gopal.
MI players bought at IPL 2024 auction
| Players | Price |
|---|---|
| Gerald Coetzee | Rs. 5 crore |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Rs. 4.60 crore |
| Shreyas Gopal | Rs. 20 lakh |
| Nuwan Thushara | Rs. 4.80 crore |
| Naman Dhir | Rs. 20 lakh |
| Shivalik Sharma | Rs. 20 lakh |
| Mohammad Nabi | Rs. 1.5 crore |
| Anshul Kamboj | Rs. 20 lakh |
In the IPL 2024 auction, Mumbai Indians didn’t intend to buy too many players; they retained their core players and traded for Hardik Pandya with Gujarat Titans.
As soon as he was tapped as captain, they created headlines by replacing Rohit Sharma with him. One of the reasons Pandya was selected as the skipper for the Titans on his return could be that he won the IPL in his first season with them.
The Chennai Super Kings stopped Pandya in the final to deny him his second title with them. This time around, back at his old den, Pandya will have to tread carefully and maintain a balance between young and old.
In addition to Gerald Coetzee and Dilshan Madushanka, Mohammad Nabi’s inclusion in the lower middle order will help relieve some of the pressure on Jasprit Bumrah.
Although their spin bowling department seems undercooked, Karnataka’s Shreyas Gopal, who was snapped up for his base price, will come in handy here.
Which Team Has the Better Squad?
Even though both teams have fairly balanced and even squads, it appears that MI edges CSK. It is purely because of their core.
This core consists also of players who are still in their prime and will contribute heavily to the team’s cause in the upcoming IPL season.
