They Will Start From Scratch - Aakash Chopra Says CSK Won't Mind No Retentions For Next Season

Former India batsman Aakash Chopra opines that the Chennai Super Kings won’t mind going into next season’s auction without any retentions. With at least 1, on maybe 2, new IPL franchises to be added from IPL 2022 onwards, the board might scrap the retentions for the next mega-auction.

In that case, Aakash Chopra believes, the Yellow Army wouldn’t be having any trepidation about building a team from scratch as might just not have any player to retain for the 15 crore bracket.

The 43-year-old further says that if the retention is allowed, their first choice would undoubtedly be that of skipper MS Dhoni – if he is available – even though Dhoni might himself be not on the same page of him acquiring the highest retention bracket.

“If there is a new rule that there are no retentions, CSK will say they are absolutely fine, and that c because they don’t have players to block 15-17 crores,” Aakash Chopra said in his YouTube video.

“Chennai Super Kings will have MS Dhoni at the first number of course and they will do that as well. But if you ask Dhoni, he might himself say why they are retaining him because he may not be there for three years and why they want to block so much money on him. But then, that’s how it is going to be. CSK and MS Dhoni are pretty much one and the same thing,” he added.

Aakash Chopra named Ravindra Jadeja and Deepak Chahar as CSK’s other retention options

After MS Dhoni, CSK will definitely look to retain superstar all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, Aakash Chopra feels – or the only way he is not retained if he demands to go to the Ahmedabad team, which is likely to be introduced in the IPL. Jadeja as emerged one of the best all-rounders in the world in the past few years and is an indispensable asset to the Indian team and CSK.

The next name for the retention, or for the usage of the Right To Match (RTM) card that CSK can prefer, as Aakash Chopra says, would be that of pacer Deepak Chahar. The seamer has become a powerplay specialist with the ball since joining CSK in 2018 and has also made his India debut following his impressive show in the IPL.

“The second will be Ravindra Jadeja if he wants to be retained. If he doesn’t want to be retained and wants to become Ahmedabad’s captain, then it’s a different thing. But if you ask CSK whom they want to retain or will retain, the second one can be Ravindra Jadeja.

“You will use the RTM card for Deepak Chahar, that’s what I feel. If Jaddu is not there, you might even think about Deepak Chahar as the second retention,” the former opener concluded.

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