IPL 2018: Anil Kumble gives 6 out of 10 marks to CSK for IPL auction performance

Kumble feels CSK didn't pick their overall squad wisely.

MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina will helm the CSK team | IPLT20.com

The controversial IPL franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is all set to make a return to the cash-rich Indian Premier League season 2018 after completing the two-year termination. Chennai Super Kings along with Rajasthan Royals were barred from the IPL for the past two editions because of corruption and fixing allegations against their respective owners.

Earlier this month, IPL retention was held in Bangalore wherein CSK retained the services of three of their marquee players MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja. Moreover, they bought 25 players in the recently held IPL auction and still managed to save INR 6.5 crores (highest among eight teams) from their purse.

Seeing CSK’s strange decision to let go the local stars such as Ravichandran Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik and Washington Sundar, former India captain Anil Kumble has rated the Chennai based franchises performance 6 on a scale of 0 to 10.   

"It's difficult to rate an auction. I would possibly give them [CSK] 6 on 10. But on the field, I am sure they will be a 9 on 10. That's the difference between what do in an auction and what you can bring into the field. I am sure MS [Dhoni] will be a 9 on 10 on the field," Kumble quoted during the IPL analysis show on Star Sports.

Kumble, however, lauded the franchise for building a solid batting lineup comprising of Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis and Raina in the top order and the likes of Kedar Jadhav, Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni in the middle order.

"They [CSK] have the batsmen. They have chosen their batsmen wisely. You know the Rainas, Dhonis and the Jadejas and of course Faf [du Plessis]. Shane Watson can probably open and make sure they get off to a good start,” Kumble added.

"Kedar Jadhav and Ambati Rayudu can bat spin really well. There is experience in the middle order. That is something they have done well.

"We always know that no matter what team you put out there, MS Dhoni will ensure that they will punch," he further explained.

Chennai Super Kings’ full squad for IPL 2018:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Sam Billings (ENG), Murali Vijay, Faf du Plessis (SA), Harbhajan Singh, Dwayne Bravo (WI), Shane Watson (AUS), Kedar Jadhav, Ambati Rayadu, Imran Tahir (SA), Karn Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Jagadeesan Narayan, Mitchell Santner (NZ), Deepak Chahar, Asif KM, Lungi Ngidi (SA), Dhruv Shorey, Mark Wood (ENG), Kshitiz Sharma, Monu Singh, Chaitanya Bishnoi

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 30 Jan, 2018

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