The Chennai Super Kings have historically been a club that refuses to meddle much with the sheer core of their squad and hence barely disturbs the auctioneer with their bids for players ahead of the season. They have a clear list prepared in advance of a couple of players they go after each season. And then they get done with the process within a relatively short span of time. And then for the rest of the time they relax and enjoy looking at other teams bid vociferously for many glamorous players.
Despite this rather reluctance and subdued approach that they undertake during the auction, CSK tend to emerge successful during the course of the season. And this highlights the importance of patient squad-building and the adequate backing that the players over there receive that in turn encourages the players to step up their level of performances and take various other teams head-on during crucial moments in the tournament.
This time though, CSK might look a bit busy on the auction table, though their shoestring budget wouldn’t allow them to indulge too much in the player acquisition activity. They have Rs 14.56 crores in their kitty and here I reflect upon five players whom they can spend this money upon:
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5. Rahul Tripathi
Rahul Tripathi had amassed 392 runs in IPL 2017 playing for Rising Pune Supergiants and throughout the IPL season was seen to be mentored by MS Dhoni. Tripathi’s stunning stroke-play impressed many. Also, he showed the ability to milk out the maximum number of runs, in the field restricted overs, through some sublime timing of the ball.
However, his progression graph went downwards when Rajasthan Royals insisted on him playing as a finisher towards the fag end of the innings and Tripathi was unable to replicate his outings from the 2017 season.
This time around, he was released by the Royals and accordingly CSK have an opportunity to lure the young lad and provide him the apt batting position to further flourish in his career. They anyways released Dhruv Shorey who might attain better opportunities somewhere else but Tripathi is someone who can fill in at the top of the order. And can polish over CSK’s woes of failing to get to a good start to the innings that was persistent in IPL 2019.
Moreover, Tripathi will receive the utmost backing from the CSK management and with the confidence-inspired player that he seems to be, the surroundings would be ample for him to cash upon and resurrect his career in India’s premier T20 tournament.
4. Nathan Coulter-Nile
CSK will be banking upon Lungi Ngidi a bit too overwhelmingly in the upcoming season and hence Nathan Coulter-Nile could be a valuable backup to possess especially considering the skill sets that the Aussie paceman brings in to the table. He is extremely effective with the new ball, maintaining the line and lengths required and pitching the ball up to create wicket-taking opportunities.
He has the variations that a pacer requires to succeed in T20 cricket up his sleeve and can nail in Yorkers at a laudable rate. Moreover, he can be an excellent option to use the long handle as Coulter-Nile has regularly shown that he has more batting and to detail it more, hitting ability than he is renowned for.
The 32-year-old can fill in at the number seven spot if Dwayne Bravo is unavailable for certain reasons or can play as a specialist bowler when required too. His tryst with injuries have hampered his growth so far but regardless of that, considering the various talents that he has and how they can be used to the optimum in different situations that a T20 match can present; it would be advisable for CSK to go after Coulter-Nile and beef up and further strengthen their squad.
