IPL 2021: CSK will miss out on the playoffs this year: Gautam Gambhir

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir feels Chennai Super Kings look like a mid-table team and might not qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2021.

Gautam Gambhir said he will not be surprised if MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) failed to qualify for the playoffs in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.
CSK is one of the most consistent teams in the history of IPL and has qualified for the playoffs in ten out of eleven seasons. They have so far won three titles and stand behind only arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (5) on the list of most titles won by the IPL franchises. However, Gambhir is not sure about the team’s credentials this season.

“The Chennai Super Kings look like a mid-table team to me” Gambhir added.

Will #CSK make the playoffs? @GautamGambhir doesn't believe so

Watch him, @irbishi, @cricketaakash and @sanjaymanjrekar talk about Chennai's prospects in #IPL2021 https://t.co/bP9xtwPBje pic.twitter.com/RIIBoRVRrC

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 7, 2021

Chennai Super Kings will play their first five matches in Mumbai this year followed by the next four in Kolkata. Gambhir explained how fast bowlers can be the key at the Wankhede Stadium and CSK lack genuine pacers in their bowling attack. He named Josh Hazlewood as the only quick bowler in the line-up. However, the Aussie pacer has pulled out of the tournament and has decided not to travel to India.

“Their first five matches are in Mumbai and after that four in Delhi. They are going to get stuck if they are playing their first nine encounters in Mumbai and Delhi. You need to score very fast in Mumbai and you need extra fast bowling, that means fast and not swing bowling and they do not have that,” said Gambhir.
Meanwhile, Dhoni, and Coareis ready to play their first game against Delhi Capitals in Wankhede stadium, Mumbai.