The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are known for their strategic approach to the IPL auction, often favoring experienced players with proven track records and they have been successful as a result of it, having won the IPL a total of 5 times.
As they prepare for the 2024 auction, the defending champions will have a purse of 31.4 crores to fill key gaps in their squad. Here are three experienced Indian players CSK could target:
Manish Pandey
Despite a disappointing 2023 season with Delhi Capitals, Pandey remains a valuable middle-order batsman with considerable experience in the IPL. He has a proven ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when needed, making him a valuable asset in the death overs. With CSK looking to replace recently retired Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey could just be the perfect player to replace the batter.
Karun Nair
Another experienced middle-order batsman who can be a perfect replacement for Ambati Rayudu, Karun Nair has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket. While he hasn’t had much success in the IPL recently, his talent and experience cannot be overlooked. Nair’s ability to play long innings and rotate the strike would be valuable for CSK.
Shardul Thakur
With CSK releasing Dwaine Pretorius and Kyle Jamieson, they need a reliable pace bowler who can provide wickets and control the run flow and can also score runs. Here Shardul Thakur fits the bill perfectly. His experience in the IPL and with the Indian team makes him a proven performer in high-pressure situations. Thakur’s ability to swing the ball makes him a threat in the powerplay and the death overs, especially in slow pitches like in Chennai. Thakur struggled with the ball while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their batting paradise pitch but would be hugely benefitted on slow pitches, just what CSK likes. While his base price of 2 crores might spark a bidding war, CSK will likely be willing to invest in a player of his caliber, who has previously been a key player for the team.
