IPL 2023: Inexperienced CSK pace attack jolted by Jamieson’s absence; Stokes expected to up the ante

IPL 2023: Inexperienced Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pace attack jolted by Kyle Jamieson’s absence; Ben Stokes expected to up the ante. Sisanda Magala to replace Kyle Jamieson.

Jamieson was bought by CSK for INR 1 crore in IPL 2023 Mini Auction (Images: ©BCCI/IPL)

Kyle Jamieson was one of the bright and emerging young prospects when he arrived at the international stage during New Zealand’s 2019-20 home series against India. The tall pacer impressed one and all with his splendid performance in his debut tourney where he picked 9 wickets in two Tests. This enabled New Zealand to win the series 2-0.

His success didn’t stop here as in the subsequent 4 Tests at home against Pakistan and West Indies, Jamieson picked a whopping 27 wickets. A stunning start to his international career accelerated the pacer’s growth as a great utility player in the cricketing fraternity.

He thus earned a lucrative contract in the IPL with the Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of 2021 IPL auctions where he was brought for a whopping sum of INR 15 crore. However, he didn’t find much success in his debut IPL season as he finished with only 9 wickets in 9 games with an economy rate at a higher side of 9.61.

Having recovered from injury, Jamieson was picked at the IPL 2023 mini auctions by the 4-time champions Chennai Super Kings at his base price of INR 1 crore. This buy was considered a steal as everyone who followed cricket knows the value Jamieson brings to the table.

Though not an express pace bowler, his height fetches him a great deal of bounce and purchase from the wicket and he is always a genuine wicket-taker. Apart from that, the lanky player is also handy with the bat and can be quite destructive on his day. This is a type of player MS Dhoni would always like to always have in the side and CSK over the years, had an overseas fast-bowling option. This move has most often given them success over the years.

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In Jamieson’s absence, Stokes expected to up his game

With Jamieson being in the side, CSK would have hoped for a significant shift in the balance in their bowling department which is too light in terms of experience. Apart from him, CSK only have Dwaine Pretorius and Matheesha Pathirana as two of the overseas pacers. Among the Indian pacers that CSK have, only Deepak Chahar has international experience while the likes of Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary and Simarjeet Singh are relatively new. Also, CSK’s number 9 finish in IPL 2022 coupled with lack of experienced fast bowlers, prompted the franchise to go for someone like Jamieson even though he is injury prone.

But given the fact that Jamieson is now ruled out of the IPL, CSK’s fast bowling department has become much weaker and the onus to put big totals on the board will now fall on the batters. CSK do have quality spinners to take advantage of the home conditions at Chepauk but it is the away games that can cause them headache due to a depleted bowling attack.

They would want their newly recruited talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes to play a bigger role with the ball than what was expected out of him. Also, the inexperienced Indian pace attack will have to create a bigger impact than they did last time around. It was their bowling which was a major cause of worry for CSK, and it could be déjà vu in this edition as well, with the absence of Jamieson.

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Magala named as replacement for Jamieson

The South African pacer Sisanda Magala has been named by the CSK franchise as the replacement for the tall Kyle Jamieson. The right-arm pacer has more than 13 years of experience in the domestic circuit and is regarded one of finest death bowlers going around in South Africa.

The 32-year-old Magala was part of SA20 champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape team where he picked 14 wickets in 12 games at an ER of 8.68 which is respectable for an end overs bowler at an average of 24. His addition will boost the fast bowling department of CSK immensely and if there is any captain who is known to utilise resources at his disposal to the greatest, it has to be MS Dhoni. We have seen lesser-known bowlers in the past doing wonders for CSK, and Magala could be another one.

Though he has played only 9 international games for South Africa in limited overs cricket with not much success, Magala could prove to be a handful for CSK when they travel for the away games in IPL 2023.

Chennai Super Kings will open their campaign against the defending champions Gujarat Titans on March 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, in what is expected to be a high octane season opener.

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