CHENNAI SUPER KINGS (CSK) - FAF DU PLESSIS AND SAM CURRAN
Chennai Super Kings would want to remove the IPL 2020 from the annals of their gloried Indian Premier League history. For the first time ever, CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs, and the team which usually is the first to make it into the final four was the first to be eliminated from the tournament this season.
While it was a complete failure from their squad, CSK might look to retain Faf du Plessis for the upcoming IPL 2021 season, as he was their highest run-getter and took some blinders on the boundary as well. The 36-year-old former South African captain belies his age on the field and with 449 runs with 4 half-centuries to his name, he deserves to be retained by the CSK think tank for the 2021 IPL season.
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The second player who should be retained by CSK is England’s Sam Curran. Both captain MS Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming admitted that the team needed to go for youth in the coming years and they need to start with Curran who made 186 runs and picked 13 wickets. He is a player who they can build a team around and he will give huge returns as well given that he is only 22 years of age.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS (RR) – BEN STOKES AND JOFRA ARCHER
Rajasthan Royals had a poor tournament despite an IPL-record chase of 224 runs against Kings XI Punjab in Sharjah. Too much tinkering with the playing combination and some harebrained decision making with the playing XI led to their downfall.
Talking about retentions ahead of the proposed mega auction in 2021 IPL, RR should look to retain two overseas players, if allowed.
IPL 2020: RR Coach Andrew McDonald calls his team's performance against KKR 'below-par'
Ben Stokes should definitely have his name inked on the retention list. He is too good a player to be risked into the auction pool and though he struggled a bit as an opener in IPL 2020, if he continues in the same position in the 2021 season, he will definitely succeed and give better returns. Though it is likely that he might return to his old batting position as a finisher.
Jofra Archer was by far the best bowler from the RR contingent and it was a shame that he didn’t get any support from other pacers or spinners for that matter. His 20 wickets and 175 dot balls in IPL 2020 are proof that RR has a genuine match-winner in their squad and he should be protected at all costs, which means retaining him ahead of the 2021 IPL auction.
