IPL 2018 | It looks like CSK have unearthed a champion in Sam Billings, says Kirs Srikkanth

After the Indian Premier League auction that took place in January, many critics labeled Dhoni and Co. as champions of the past. CSK's approach to the auction ignited a debate on social media as the two-time winners preferred experience over youth and bought nine players aged above 30, and earned themselves the nickname ‘Chennai SENIOR Kings.’

But Dhoni’s boys have proved all their doubters wrong after two convincing wins in their opening matches to top the table at this point in the IPL. After Dwayne Bravo’s heroics in the first match against Mumbai Indians won them the match, it was English batsman Sam billings who stepped up in the second match at their home turf in Chepauk against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Billings scored a stunning 56 off 23 balls to get his team back into the game at the MA Chidambaram stadium, which eventually resulted in a match-winning innings.

And former India captain and Ex-CSK ambassador Kris Srikkanth has labeled the English cricketer to be a champion after his performance with the bat in Chepauk.

"We have already witnessed some amazing efforts with the bat in season 11 but none better than the match-winning knock of 53 from Sam Billings. Widely expected to open, the Englishman made the middle order his own. For someone who did not grow up playing spin, the class and ease with which he handled the spinners was a treat. The flick off Piyush Chawla will forever remain in my memory. Add the crowd pressure and the occasion, it was a massive effort and it looks like the former winners have unearthed a champion," wrote Srikkanth in his column for TOI.

Billings, 26, was purchased by CSK for Rs 1 crore at the IPL players' auction in January. He was earlier a part of Delhi Daredevils squad last year where he scored 226 runs in 10 innings as he registered two fifties.

Srikkanth added that the IPL had always been a tournament dominated by batsmen and this season was no different. The team that batted first enjoyed a bit of an advantage which made the matches a bit more predictable opined Srikkanth.

"Andre Russell played a knock that he alone is capable of, sadly there can be only one winner and it had to Chennai. The teams that have batted first have had a distinct advantage and that is robbing the event of some competition. I do agree there were a few out of the world chases but knowing what," wrote Srikkanth.