3. Andrew Tye
Andrew Tye had fallen off the radar last season after his performances saw a sudden decline. And hence was released subsequently by the KXIP who are looking for a major turnaround with proper cleansing of the squad. Now, Tye is one of those specialist T20 bowlers who have made a name for themselves with certain unique skills and dimensions to their bowling that gauges well with the demands of the shortest format of the sport.
He has a variety of knuckle-balls, the slower deliveries, and most importantly the calm head that is required to take the most important of decisions in the most delicate of moments in the game. Tye is an effective bowler at the death and has all the experience required seamlessly settling and starting to deliver consistently for a new franchisee.
He has previously been a part of the CSK setup and hence would have a fair idea of what and what not to expect from the key decision-makers of this franchise. Tye played in only six games last season but given a proper run of matches without any hindrance, he has shown in the past and as recently as in IPL 2018 that he can scalp wickets in abundance. He showed the same in that campaign with 24 dismissals to his name in 14 matches.
Bravo’s impact had deteriorated with the ball in recent times, and though he is not someone from whom CSK would wash their hands off, it is always safe to have someone equally capable waiting in the sidelines to pounce upon any given opportunity. Andrew Tye could be that player
2. Jaydev Unadkat
Now, that is a controversial choice given that Jaydev Unadkat deceived his franchise by a huge margin over the course of the last two IPL seasons when he was paid big bucks by the Rajasthan Royals. However, like Tripathi, even Unadkat’s breakthrough season came in 2017 when he notched 24 wickets in 12 matches for the RPSG and MS Dhoni was keenly mentoring him during that point in time.
He had suffered a massive dip in form and further humiliation in the Royals but CSK has usually done well in encapsulating their players with the utmost care, security and an overall optimum environment where they tend to stay in a positive frame of mind and thus deliver adequately on the ground. Unadkat needs someone senior to put a hand over his shoulder and guide him through the situations at times, and with Dhoni present behind the stumps, one can rest assured of the fact that it would be done.
He has a unique set of skills, especially the cutters and the slower balls that would work really well in the track that Chepauk has to offer and hence it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that the southpaw could be a valuable addition to CSK’s side. He has been in good terms with Dhoni over the years and could act as a replacement to Mohit Sharma, who was released by the Yellow Brigade ahead of this auction.
Unadkat might not attract many takers given the run of form that was in the IPL in the recent past, but he has been an absolute performer in the domestic circuit and could be acquired for a feasible sum of money in the upcoming auction by the 2018 Champions.
