Chennai Super Kings will be one franchise that will be extra-active at the auctions. After a disappointing campaign in UAE, MSD and his boys would look to make amends by making the upcoming season count. An important factor for this could be the performance of the management at the auctions.
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was a useful scale to gauge the skills of many domestic cricketers. CSK, who usually depend on stars and known faces, would have had their eyes on the tournament. A couple of players could excel on the big stage, and the three-time champions must sign a few. In this article, we talk about seven SMAT 2021 performers whom CSK must target.
1. Avi Barot
Despite the presence of veterans like Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni and Robin Uthappa, CSK’s batting line-up still looks unconvincing. Some fresh faces and a bit of youth could solve this problem to an extent. After a stellar campaign where he recorded 283 runs from five games for Saurashtra, Avi Barot will be on the wishlist of many teams. CSK can make use of the 28-year-old in the batting order. Hence, they must bid for him at the auctions.
2. Baba Aparajith
We feel that CSK’s primary target must be Baba Aparajith. The Tamil Nadu player is in fine form and can be a game-changer for CSK. Baba can hold the middle-order and allow the likes of MSD and Raina to play freely. The player can also lend a few overs of right-arm off-spin, something that no other player in the current CSK unit can provide. Moreover, Baba is a homegrown boy, and his inclusion will please the local fans.
3. C Hari Nishanth
While Faf du Pless is sure to take one of the opening slots, at least for the initial games, Ruturaj Gaikwad would take up the other position. However, as the tournament progresses, if one of these two falls out of form, CSK can be left wanting for a reserve option. C Hari Nishanth is in fantastic form and being a left-hander, he can lend a tactical advantage too. If IPL happens in India, Hari Nishanth’s knowledge of the Chepauk track can also be useful.
4. L Meriwala
The second-highest wicket-taker in SMAT 2021, L Meriwala was one of the brightest pacers in the competition. He collected 15 scalps from eight games at an impressive average of 13.27. Being a left-armer, Meriwala will be the ideal backup for Sam Curran in the squad. While he may not offer a long-term incentive, with just a year to go for the auctions, the Baroda man would be a decent pick.
5. C Sakariya
Chetan Sakariya is also a left-hand pacer, but he is just 22 years old and will be someone on whom CSK can invest in keeping the future in mind. In the recently concluded SMAT, Sakariya took 12 wickets from five games at an average of 8.17. CSK must keep a long-term picture from here on, and Sakariya would be a good addition to the project.
6. Jalaj Saxena
He is a similar cricketer to Baba Aparajith, but Jalaj is a more established bowler. If CSK is looking to replace Harbhajan Singh, Jalaj Saxena will be a good pick. He is an experienced cricketer and is extremely adept with his batting skills as well. Of course, there is the age factor, but CSK must look at the positives too.
7. Shahrukh Khan
One look at Shahrukh Khan and you can say that he belongs firmly to the T20 breed which consists cricketers like Hardik Pandya and Yusuf Pathan. CSK used Sam Curran as a floater last season, and if they can buy a player like Shahrukh Khan, they will have a domestic option for that role. The Tamil Nadu lad produced a few impressive cameos in SMAT, and that could land him in the interest of many franchises at the auctions.
