According to a Cricbuzz report, BCCI has decided to allow a maximum of four retentions to all the existing IPL franchises. Earlier, franchises were also given an option of using Right-to-Match cards to re-own their ex-player(s) if any other franchise bought them from the auction pool. They just had to match their highest bid.
However, with two new IPL franchises coming up next season, that option is set to be scrapped. If RTM cards were to be used by existing teams, getting quality players would have been very tough for the new franchises. Hence, scrapping them makes sense.
With that being said, franchises will now want to re-buy their core players in the upcoming mega-auction. This article looks at three such players CSK may want to buy again to build their team around for IPL 2022 season.
1. Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur has to be credited for Chennai Super King’s IPL 2021 triumph. After all, he ended the tournament as its fourth-highest wicket-taker. He took 21 wickets across the tournament and 16 of them came in the UAE-held second leg. His change of pace and cunning length mix-up made sure that no other bowler had more scalps in the second-leg of IPL 2021.
Just like Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, pitches at Chepauk are bound to be sluggish. Taking pace off the ball is always the key to succeeding at Chennai’s home ground. Thus, the four-time champs will need someone to take that mantle from Dwayne Bravo. Shardul Thakur fits the bill perfectly.
2. Suresh Raina
With 33 half-centuries to his name, Suresh Raina is the most talismanic Super King of all time. He’s been the side’s central batter for more than a decade. CSK missed out on IPL playoffs only for a solitary season, the sole edition which Raina didn’t feature in. With 5528 IPL runs to his name, Raina is their batting lynchpin.
3. Moeen Ali
Hailing from England, Moeen Ali is a left-handed bat who bowls off-spin. While his overall IPL record isn’t remarkable, Moeen Ali was one of the primary reasons behind Chennai’s title win. Mostly batting at number three, Ali scored 357 runs in IPL 2021. While his multiple 30-odds may not seem a lot, they prevented Chennai’s brittle middle-order from getting exposed.
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Add to that his disciplined off-spin which can deceive even the best of southpaws, Moeen Ali will surely be re-bought if the situation allows CSK to do so.
While Chennai Super Kings will surely look to buy the aforementioned players again, here are the players they will surely retain: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, and Faf du Plessis.