IPL 2022: CSK Will Go After Suresh Raina In The Auctions, Says Robin Uthappa

Indian batter Robin Uthappa said that Chennai Super Kings will target their top-scorer Suresh Raina in the IPL 2022 mega auction.

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has retained MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali for IPL 2022.

The IPL 2022 retention list is out with most of the teams having retained four players, which was the maximum limit set by the IPL Governing Council. 

The IPL 2022 will see the addition of two new franchises (from Ahmedabad and Lucknow). Majority of players will go under the hammer which brings another grand auction in the cash-rich league, just like the one in IPL 2011. 

Suresh Raina will be the first guy CSK will go after: Robin Uthappa

With 5529 runs from 195 IPL innings, Raina is the highest run-scorer of the Yellow army and has also appeared in 200 games only behind MS Dhoni (214).

Uthappa, who too was released by CSK, feels that Raina will be the first player that CSK will go behind in the mega auctions.

“I think he is the biggest stalwart of CSK that we’ve had. He’s been such an instrumental figure in helping CSK qualify to so many of the knockout stages in the last 10-12 years. Suresh (Suresh Raina) has been a vital cog in the wheel, so I think he will be the first guy they will go after,” Uthappa said on Star Sports. 

Robin Uthappa explains why CSK will go after Faf du Plessis

Moeen Ali brought stability in CSK’s batting order in IPL 2021, one of the major aspects in the team’s massive turnaround after a poor campaign in IPL 2020. 

The England all-rounder scored 357 runs from 15 innings at the strike rate of 137.30 in IPL 2021 and also returned with six wickets with the ball.

Uthappa said that Moeen’s ability to bat and bowl helped him to get the edge of South African batter Faf du Plessis. 

“Having said that, it must have been really difficult to let go of Faf but, I think the only thing that pegged it towards Mo (Moeen Ali) was the fact that he is a two-dimensional player, with both the skills, and unfortunately, they had to make that choice and they would definitely want to retain a player with two skills. But I am certain that they will go after Faf because he has been incredible for CSK over the past 5 or 6 years,” Uthappa said.

CSK’s retained players with price tags:- 

1. Ravindra Jadeja (16 cr)
2. MS Dhoni (12 cr)
3. Moeen Ali (8 cr)
4. Ruturaj Gaikwad (6 cr)

Also Read: 5 Records Held By Suresh Raina In IPL