IPL 2021: 5 Players From Chennai Super Kings Who Might Be Benched Throughout The Tournament

Chennai Super Kings will aim for a far better show in IPL 2021 than the last edition. In IPL 2020, the MS Dhoni-led team came up with their worst-ever show in the tournament. The 2018 winners and 2019 runner-up CSK finished at the 7^th spot on the points table. The three-time IPL champions CSK lost 8 matches in IPL 2020 out of 14 games as their journey in the tournament ended after the group stages.

Ahead of IPL 2021 auction, Chennai Super Kings released 6 players out of their squad. The franchisee decided to part ways with Kedar Jadhav, Murali Vijay, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Monu Singh and Shane Watson. Later in IPL 2021 auction, Chennai Super Kings bought 6 players. CSK’s costliest buy was Indian all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham for Rs. 9.25 crore.

He was followed by English all-rounder Moeen Ali, who became part of CSK at a Rs. 7 crore deal in the auction. Cheteshwar Pujara was another popular name who made his way into the CSK squad in IPL 2021 auction. Pujara was bought for Rs. 50 lakh.

After the IPL 2021 auction, Chennai Super Kings have 245 players in their squad. Their names are as follows- Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Narayan Jagadeesabn, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KM Asif, Josh Hazlewood, Karn Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, Faf du Plessis, Shardul Thakur, Mitchell Santner, Dwayne Bravo, Lungi Ngidi, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Imran Tahir, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, K Gowtham, Cheteshwar Pujara, M Harisankar Reddy, K Bhagath Varma, C Hari Nishaanth and R Sai Kishore.

Since IPL is a too competitive and nerve-wracking cricket tournament, only the best players get a chance to perform on the field. Here we will look at 5 players from Chennai Super Kings who might be benched throughout the tournament.

IPL 2021: 5 Players From Chennai Super Kings Who Might Be Benched Throughout The Tournament

K Bhagath Varma

K Bhagath Varma became a part of Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021 auction at his base price of Rs. 20 lakh. The 22-year-old youngster has no international experience so far. He plays for Hyderabad at the domestic level. He has played for India under-19 team before.

Since Varma doesn’t have many achievements to his name, CSK might bench him in IPL 2021. He will surely get a lot of experience about the Indian Premier League during the tenure, but his inclusion in the playing 11 is highly unexpected.

C Hari Nishaanth

C Hari Nishaanth also lacks experience at the international stage. The Chennai-based cricketer has been part of the Tamil Nadu Premier League before. The 24-year-old cricketer has played 1 first-class match, 6 List A matches and 19 T20s so far.

Nishaanth is a left-hand batsman and right-arm off-break bowler. With all-rounders like Moeen Ali, Krishnappa Gowtham and Ravindra Jadeja already available, there are fewer chances that CSK will send C Hari Nishaanth into the field in IPL 2021.

Harisankar Reddy

Chennai Super Kings bought M Harisankar Reddy for Rs. 20 lakh during IPL 2021 auction but there is very little chance that the cricketer will be part of playing 11 in IPL 2021. The 22-year-old cricketer has played 3 List A games and 13 T20 matches for Andhra domestic team. Being a medium-pace bowler, Reddy faces a huge competition for an entry CSK’s playing 11 in IPL 2021.

Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Shardul Thakur, and Dwayne Bravo are some top fast bowlers in Chennai Super Kings. It is less likely that the franchisee will replace one of these to give an opportunity to M Harisankar Reddy in IPL 2021.

KM Asif

Medium pace bowler KM Asif became part of Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2018. He has been a part of the franchise for the last three editions but has got very few opportunities on the field. KM Asif played two matches for Chennai in IPL 2018 in which he got 3 wickets.

But he came out to be an expensive bowler giving 43 runs and 32 runs in the two games he played. Since 2018, KM Asif has been out of the playing 11. Along with M. Harisankar Reddy, KM Asif might be benched throughout IPL 2021.

R Sai Kishore

R Sai Kishore is a slow left-arm bowler who became part of the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2020 auction. He did not play any match for CSK in IPL 2020. Chennai-based cricketer, Kishore is an uncapped player who has played only 17 first-class, 24 list A and 30 T20s so far.

In the slow bowler category, CSK already has players like Mitchell Santner,  Imran Tahir, and Moeen Ali in the team. Moreover, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, and Krishnappa Gowtham can also play as secondary bowlers in the team. So it is less likely that R Sai Kishore will find a way into the playing 11 in IPL 2021.