It's Great To Be Back With CSK Says Newly Appointed Bowling Coach, LP Balaji
(Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)

Chennai Super Kings decided to bring back their core group, and as a result of it, they also appointed Laxmipathy Balaji as their bowling coach for the upcoming season. The former India pacer is quite happy to be back to the franchise, for which he played for a total of three years and also became the first bowler in the history of IPL to take a hat-trick in the very first season of the T20 league,

“It’s great to be back with CSK. In fact, my career as a player sort of resumed again post injury in the colours of CSK. I have great memories with CSK and it will be a great exposure for me to be involved with them as coach. I’m looking forward to my stint,” Balaji, he told TOI.

Balaji has earlier worked as the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders in the last season as well and is presently the bowling coach of the Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy team.

Apart from Balaji, CSK have also roped in former Head Coach, Stephen Fleming, in the same capacity. Michael Hussey, who represented the franchise in the past, has also made a comeback to the team, this time as a member of backroom staff.

Read More  Dale Steyn issues clarification after being crushed for his earlier comments on Kwena Maphaka
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, IPL Auction 2018, India Cements, RTMs, Chennai Super Kings,
Photo Credit: IPL/BCCI.

CSK is also looking forward to gaining their former players back too as MS Dhoni, the skipper of CSK, said that the off-spinner, R Ashwin, will be the first choice of the franchise.

CSK retained three players in the auction in the form of MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina. Dhoni was their first preference while Raina and Jadeja came second and third on the preference list.

The franchise spent a total of Rs 33 Crores in the retention ceremony and will have a purse of Rs 47 Crores going into the auction. Ashwin is expected to bag a big contract on the auction day, which will further compress the purse of CSK.

Hence, the franchise will have to make the best use of their money as if Ashwin bags an amount of more than Rs 7 Crore, then it would mean that the franchise will lose more than half of their money on just four players viz Dhoni, Raina, Ashwin and Jadeja.

The IPL auction will take place on January 27 and 28 in Bangalore.

Follow more IPL 2018 news here.