Chennai give a glimpse of thrilling times ahead

MS Dhoni might again be captain by default, but he is nearing 44 and battling a weak knee, which means he isn't as effective in the death overs as he used to be.

- Somshuvra Laha

KOLKATA: The eye for potential is razor sharp though, allowing Chennai Super Kings to live in hope that under Dhoni will emerge another crop of cricket-ers who can be an asset for the foreseeable future.

The win at Kolkata gave a brief glimpse to that promise — Urvil Patel setting up the chase with an 11-ball 31 and Dewald Brevis finishing it with a 22-ball half-century. Add Ayush Mhatre to this conversation and we are already talking three fearless batters with an average age of just under 23 but with strike rates well north of 150.

Which for CSK is huge because they have a history of picking overseas allrounders and rejuvenating the careers of Indians, decisions that aren't always statistically backed as well.

Breaking that mould was necessary, and probably better if it would happen under Dhoni. He hasn't beaten around the bush either, accepting that CSK need to change or sink. Which is why Dhoni has gone in for wholesale changes, all youngsters, and all batters because that's where CSK has been most vulnerable in a season where their powerplay run rate before the KKR match was 8.1.