Chennai Super Kings made well – thought and planned decisions in the VIVO IPL Player Auctions 2021. Analysing their rebuild effort, their successes and their misses.
Chennai Super Kings, a side which showed everyone how, thousands of people’s dreams can be shattered in a matter of weeks and how a few players missing and just that touch of luck not being there can miss with the minds of the best. After having lost to Mumbai Indians in the 2020 IPL Final, CSK looked to b one of the teams who would take revenge and everyone was almost a hundred percent sure that CSK and MI will again be one of the two teams to qualify for the Playoffs, and MI did qualify but CSK just saved themselves from finishing last on the table, ending their season at the 7th position on the Points Table, bringing an end to to the record that CSK had never failed to qualify for the IPL Playoffs. It is time for them to rebuild, revitalise and regain their posititon as they revenge and avenge the defeats. It is time to happily #Whistle Podu!
And they did so! They did not make decisions under pressure, under that natural pull towards international stars, available at reasonable prices, they did go for players that mattered and got some but had to lose out to some, nevertheless, CSK have done rebuild to a great possible extent, as it needs to be kept in mind that the actual rebuild happens only in Mega Auctions with purses the size that KXIP had.
CSK, first, entered the bidding war for Glenn Maxwell. Although it may seem weird, if Maxwell would have gone to CSK at the right price, he would not be a bad buy. Apart from bowling and that good set of international players, CSK also lacked that one reliable middle order batsmen, and Maxwell is an all – rounder, who can give you some fine four overs and also finish the match like Dhoni if required to. This would have also helped CSK make space for another bowler or batsman as per requirement.
But they weren’t pushed back and given a big setback, they came back into the game and this time got Moeen Ali for INR 7Cr. He is an all – rounder, gave auditions recently, in the final few minutes of the Second Test Match between India and England at Chennai. He can make use of the Chepauk pitch, if IPL matches happen at home grounds and Chepauk is used by CSK. He can bat out some overs and get those quick runs against medium pacers as well, and ease that pressure off the likes of Sam Curran and others in the middle order, and the best thing being that he can come in anywhere from 5th – 7th in the batting line – up, providing CSK that flexibility they might need in matches where the top order falls early.
It only made sense for CSK to fill their single available overseas player with an all – rounder and with Maxwell out of their reach and them not being interested in Marnus Labuschagne, who surprisingly went unsold, Moeen Ali was their best buy option.
Then CSK went for Krishnappa Gowtham and Cheteshwar Pujara. Now Cheteshwar Pujara‘s selection depends on how he performs in the nets. As Pujara returns to the Indian Premier League for the first time since 2014, applause filled the Auction room and Pujara would be hoping he is able to get some on the ground from the crowd in the VIVO IPL 2021. He is a player mainly known for facing the red ball, wearing whites but as recently as 2019, he has scored his maiden T20 century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and even in the First test match against England in Chepauk, he did show that he has the capability to go first and slow. If in the nets, he shows that he is able to settle quick and can play some shots, you might see him playing for CSK in a couple of matches through the season.
Krishnappa Gowtham is the interesting buy. A bowling all – rounder. A spinner. CSK, a team which needs some good spin, yes, they also do need some new good Indian pacers, and the K. Gowtham and Moeen Ali duo completes this aim for CSK. He actually can even be brought in, in place of an overseas player. He is worth it but it depends on the opposition, the pitch and the team’s requirements. He is an off – break and Moeen Ali is also an off – break, the only extra thing that Moeen Ali brings in is that he is a left hand batsman and helps bring in that variation. This duo might be seen coming and going in and out from the Playing XI, One in, out out, both in and both out(maybe on grounds where it isn’t a very turning pitch and the opposition is more bowler heavy).
After this CSK did get some good domestic talent, none of which were very interesting and just add to their new young players collection.
So, CSK in conclusion rounded up pretty successful auction but there were some misses.
They missed a little on getting a good, slightly more experienced than the young ones, Indian all – rounder. That might have just completed the CSK batting line up and filled all holes and gaps for the 2021 season.
|CHENNAI WILL BE WISHING FOR SOME JOYOUS WHISTLE PODU MOMENTS|
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