Ahead of the commencement of IPL 2020 in UAE, CSK were landed two heavy blows. While the first one was the unavailability of Suresh Raina, the next one came when veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh pulled out of the tournament.
CSK is yet to delegate a replacement for both these players, and with the circumstances around, it could be possible that the team might look for reinforcements in the coming days. But, it needs to be seen as to which department the management will look to strengthen.
Our guess, though, is that CSK would pick a batsman. The team is suffering heavily due to the absence of Suresh Raina’s blistering starts, and it is high time that this needs to be looked into. There are some quality Indian batsmen in the unsold list. Here are five players whom CSK can sign as Harbhajan Singh’s replacement.
Note: There is still no clarity about Suresh Raina’s stance in the tournament. Hence, CSK could first pick a replacement for Harbhajan Singh.
1.Manoj Tiwary
Manoj Tiwary is an unlucky candidate in the IPL. Despite good showings, the Bengal batsman never got his due. He is raring to go, and right now, CSK needs such cricketers. From the skills aspect, too, there is no scarcity. Manoj is experienced at the highest level, and this will be a bonus for the team. Moreover, he is more mobile and athletic than the likes of Kedar Jadhav and Ambati Rayudu, something that can be put to use. Hence, CSK must sign Manoj as Bhajji’s replacement.
2.Yusuf Pathan
Despite his tapering form in the last few seasons, Yusuf Pathan is still a legend in IPL cricket. He has won multiple trophies and would be a fine addition to the CSK ranks. There are hardly less than ten games to go this season, and for a temporary solution, Yusuf is the right option. At No.3, he can take opposition to the cleaners with his big-hitting skills. Also, in stadiums such as Sharjah, the Baroda man will be a nightmare for the bowlers.
3.Naman Ojha
Naman Ojha might have lost his sheen, but his big-hitting skills are still intact. Considering he will be signed only for this edition, CSK could take a punt on Naman Ojha. The Madhya Pradesh batsman has done well in IPL before, and that will only help him give his best for the franchise. Naman is also a good player against the spinners, something that could allow him score many runs. This is just the right template for a player that CSK is looking for right now.
4.Rohan Kadam
Rohan Kadam would have been an ideal like-to-like replacement for Suresh Raina. Although Kadam is an opener, the Karnataka lad has played down the batting line-up for his state team. For two consecutive Syed Mushtaq Ali tournaments, Kadam has been good and has topped the batting charts. Just like Raina, Kadam is a left-hander and also an intelligent cricketer. He has the innate ability to read the game well in crunch situations. He also possesses the skill to switch gears easily, an aspect that could help CSK very much. For the team too, it is time to look at the future, and they might start the next era with the acquisition of Rohan Kadam.
5.Shahrukh Khan
Youngblood and fresh legs are inadequate at the CSK camp. There is also a lack of brute hitters of the ball apart from MSD. If CSK can sign Shahrukh Khan, all of it would get resolved. A homegrown talent, when he gets going, it is almost impossible to stop Shahrukh Khan. His build is tailor-made for this format, and he could well be CSK’s answer for the low run-rate during middle-overs.
