The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had an eventful IPL 2022 auction in which they filled in spaces left behind by the players they couldn’t retain ahead of the auction. CSK was the few of the franchises, that retained four players before the two-day mega event.
Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Moeen Ali were the four talents that the four-time and currently defending IPL champions retained before the IPL 2022 auction. However, they also had to let go of some of the players that have made their franchise what it is today like Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, and others.
However, in the auction, they spent big money on buying back Deepak Chahar, who they got for INR 14 crores. Their other expensive buys were Ambati Rayudu (INR 6.75 crs), Shivam Dube (INR 4 crs), Chris Jordan (INR 3.60 crs), and Dwayne Bravo (INR 4.40 crs).
Considering the players CSK retained and the talent they bought at the auction, COC presents Possible Playing XI for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2022.
Though they failed to buy back Faf du Plessis at the auction, Chennai managed to get the second-best option as they grabbed New Zealand’s Devon Conway for his base price of INR 1 crore only and expect him to open with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had won the Orange Cap for most runs in IPL 2021.
However, apart from that misstep, CSK managed to get back all of their core players preferring experience over youth and building a team for the upcoming two years of IPL, instead of the long-term future.
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Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, and MS Dhoni are expected to make the core of the batting lineup with Dwayne Bravo for finishing duties. Deepak Chahar was rebought at the auction, as CSK spent over INR 10 crores for a player for the first time.
However, CSK was smart in their buys as they bought Shivam Dube, Chris Jordan, and Dwaine Pretorius as a backup for Bravo, who has battled injuries of late. Mitchell Santner can cover Moeen Ali perfectly.
The fast bowling department is expected to be led by Deepak Chahar and Adam Milne, with young guns like Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Tushar Deshpande, KM Asif, and possibly Simarjeet Singh to be rotated during the long tournament, which will see 74 matches happening from March 26 to May 29.
The Chennai Super Kings will definitely be favorites to defend their title, given that MS Dhoni will still lead the side and they have most of their core players back in the IPL 2022 auction. The new blood in the squad will provide energy and the core will give them the experience they need to take the franchise forward.
COC presents Possible Playing XI for Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (C,WK), Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Adam Milne
