As the IPL 2022 Mega Auction is nearing, all franchises are in the process of shortlisting possible players to aim in the bidding. However, each side was only allowed to retain a max of 4 players. However, with just four retentions permitted, the rest of the players were left without the core squad that performed for them in 2021. The question here comes Who Will CSK Retain In 2022?
The 8 current IPL franchises disclosed the names of retained players on 30th November. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the four-time title winners and defending champs, retained players like captain MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, and opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Who Will CSK Retain In 2022?
CSK’s Desire To Get Back Its Regular Players
MS Dhoni is likely to captain Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2022, which might be his final year in the league. During the November retention policy, Dhoni was the franchise’s 2nd player to be retained. CSK’s first selection was all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for 16 cr, while Dhoni accepted a huge pay cut and agreed for 12 cr. Furthermore, Ali was retained for 8 cr, while Gaikwad was retained for 6 cr.
As a result, CSK released numerous players, including Mr. IPL Suresh Raina, popularly known as the Chinna Thala, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, and others. The Yellow Army will attempt to rebuild and design a new core of players in the team, while CSK CEO has confirmed that the company would aim to re-sign opener Faf du Plessis. Despite CSK’s desire to preserve its regular players, they will chase Faf at any cost.
CSK franchise CEO, K Viswanathan said: “We look forward to getting them back. For example, Faf has been a team man who has taken us to the finals of two important seasons. It will be our endeavor to go and try for him. But it’s not in our hands.” He added, “We wish them all the very best wherever they are. We look forward to having a very good 2022.”
Whereas Raina has been CSK’s highest run-scorer (5,529) in the IPL, the explosive left-hander’s reputation has dropped since the franchise’s restoration. Furthermore, Faf (CSK’s third-highest run-getter with 2,932 runs) created a formidable opening duo with Ruturaj in IPL 2021 and has become one of their outstanding performances with the bat in the previous two seasons.
CSK Aims ‘Bowling All-rounders’
With the exception of the retained spin bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali, Yellow Army also has Dwayne Bravo and Sam Curran as the other 2 all-rounders in the list. Considering how outstanding Sam Curran has been there for CSK, Chennai will almost undoubtedly monitor him. The Super Kings always had a special place for bowling all-rounders, and Sam Curran suits the criteria very well.
CSK did not retain any pace bowlers prior to the IPL 2022 Auction, however, they would like to keep practically all of their important pacers. Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, and Josh Hazlewood have all performed admirably for CSK in the past. If presented with a choice, CSK would go after all 3 since they are still crucial assets for the side.
For the uninitiated, the Dhoni-led CSK club will enter this year’s blockbuster auction with a whopping purse of 480 million (48 cr). Lucknow and Ahmedabad will join the league in the upcoming season, adding two more franchises to the cash-rich tournament.
‘All Set for the Adhiradi Auction Week’, Tweets CSK official:
All Set for the Adhiradi Auction Week ? 🥳#SuperSquad #WhistlePodu 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/5CI3ER8XmK
— Chennai Super Kings – Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) February 7, 2022
