The Chennai Super Kings will play defending champions Gujarat Titans in the opening match of the 2023 Indian Premier League on March 31. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led CSK had finished a disappointing ninth last year, and will be aiming at a much-improved outing as the squad is bolstered with the arrival of star English all-rounder Ben Stokes. The Super Kings broke the bank for the 31-year-old star, securing his buy for a whopping INR 16.25 crore in the auction last December.
However, former India opener Aakash Chopra seems puzzled with Stokes' inclusion in the squad; during a video on his official YouTube channel, Chopra stated that Stokes likes to build his innings rather than going for the offensive straightaway, and that the Super Kings already have a similar player in Ruturaj Gaikwad.