Report: CSK Set To Release Piyush Chawla And Murali Vijay; Fate Of Suresh Raina And Kedar Jadhav In MS Dhoni's Hands

Three-time IPL champions and one of the most successful teams in the history of the cash-rich league, Chennai Super Kings [CSK] will be looking to rebuild their squad in the mini-auction set to take place ahead of the 2021 edition.

The BCCI has asked each of the eight franchises to submit their final list of retentions on December 20. And, according to a report published in CricBuzz, the franchise is all set to release leg-spinner Piyush Chawla and veteran opener Murali Vijay.

Chawla was bought by CSK for a price of Rs 6.75 Crore in the 2019 auctions but he could not live up to his billing in the last edition. The leg-spinner featured in seven games in which he managed just six wickets. By releasing Chawla, CSK will free up a major chunk of their purse since their remaining balance is a mere Rs 15 Lakh.

According to the same report, opener Murali Vijay is also set to be released. Vijay, who was a major of CSK’s success back in 2010 and 2011, did not have a season to remember in 2020 as he managed just 32 runs across three matches before being released.

Meanwhile, according to CricBuzz, the fate of Suresh Raina and Kedar Jadhav lies in the hands of skipper MS Dhoni.
Raina, CSK’s most successful batsman since the inception of the IPL, had traveled to the UAE for the 2020 edition but pulled out at the last moment due to personal reasons.

The CSK officials have confirmed that there is a 50-50 chance of Raina being retained by the franchise. According to the same report, the fate of Kedar Jadhav, who had a terrible 2020 season, is also in MS Dhoni’s hands. The officials will ask MS Dhoni before taking a final call on the middle-order batsman.