IPL 2021 Auction: 3 Players That Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Will Target

The three-time IPL winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had the worst IPL experience in the 2020 edition as they finished in the seventh position in the final points table, their first experience to finish an IPL season outside the top four positions. So, the upcoming IPL 2021 auction is going to be very crucial for the CSK.

In that entire IPL 2020, Chennai Super Kings hugely struggled as a team. Though they won all their last three matches of that tournament, it was too late for them.

While recently Chennai Super Kings released their players’ retention list, they released Kedar Jadhav, Murali Vijay, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Monu Singh and Shane Watson (retired). After that, they have traded in Robin Uthappa. In the upcoming IPL 2021 auction, CSK will massively focus on the Indian players as they have currently 6 more available slots, including only one overseas slot.

Observing the latest CSK squad, we believe that they majorly need at least one more opening batsman, one left-arm pacer and one off-spinner.

While young Ruturaj Gaikwad highly impressed as an opening batsman in the late of IPL 2020, he and South African star Faf du Plessis can be a good choice for the opening partnership. Also, Narayan Jagadeesan has highly impressed as an opening batsman in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020/21. Also, Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa can be occasionally used for the opening batting. But in the absence of Shane Watson, Chennai Super Kings may need to add an experienced and dependable opening batsman.

Also, while they haven’t proper off-spinner, English all-rounder Sam Curran is their only left-arm pace bowling choice.

IPL 2021 Auction: 3 players that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will target

Aaron Finch

Australian limited-overs captain Aaron Finch was not consistent enough in the IPL 2020 and that’s why Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) didn’t retain him ahead of the IPL 2021 auction. He also massively struggled in the BBL 2020/21.

However, a few good knocks can massively boost his confidence. Also, his huge experience in limited-overs cricket is also a big plus point for him.

As Shane Watson has left the CSK squad, the franchise needs an experienced T20 opening batsman, despite having South African cricketer Faf du Plessis. Aussie cricketer Aaron Finch can be a good choice for this slot for CSK in the IPL 2021 auction.

Pradeep Sangwan

The left-arm pacer Pradeep Sangwan last time played an IPL match in 2018 edition, serving for Mumbai Indians (MI). He has taken 35 wickets in 39 IPL matches. In the IPL 2009, he was the joint eighth-most wicket-taker as he got 15 wickets in 13 matches for Delhi Daredevils.

Recently, Sangwan featured in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020/21. Serving for Delhi, he bagged seven wickets in four games. Though Delhi failed to advance for the quarter-finals of this tournament, Sangwan impressed with the ball in hand. He can make IPL comeback in the 2021 edition, especially when Chennai Super Kings will be a stronger side by adding one Indian left-arm pacer. So, CSK can look on him during the IPL 2021 auction.

Jalaj Saxena

While Chennai Super Kings have just released the experienced off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and experienced leg-spinner, Piyush Chawla, they are likely to add other spinners during the IPL 2021 auction. Though they still have many quality spinners like South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir, Indian leg-spinner Karn Sharma, Indian left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, they haven’t off-spinner.

The 34-year-old Kerala cricketer Jalaj Saxena can be a good off-spin bowling option. While he is a good all-rounder, he is a good off-spinner in T20 cricket. In recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020/21, Saxena took 10 wickets in five games. Also, in the last domestic season, he was a consistent performer.

Even in the IPL 2020, when Harbhajan Singh made himself unavailable for CSK, former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta suggested Saxena’s name as Harbhajan’s replacement.