Top 5 Players CSK should target for IPL 2022 Mega Auction: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is arguably one of the best teams of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The franchise has bagged the coveted IPL trophy as many as four times, having won one in the recently concluded IPL 2021. CSK, despite keeping the same core, bounced back in the IPL 2021 and proved its worth in gold in the surfaces of UAE.
Notably, CSK’s success is synonymous with the exclusive big-hit of the IPL season. It must be noted that the viewership of the cash-rich goes beyond expectations when CSK performs well in the league and vice-versa to a little extent.
Ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auction, CSK have retained Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali and Ruturaj Gaikwad. These players are all set to don Yellow Jersey once again in the next season of the IPL.
MS Dhoni will be seen leading the side in front of the home crowd for one last season. Apart from Dhoni, several other players will be seen in action, some would be from their previous squad while some will be fresh faces for the Yellow army.
In this article we will take you through the top 5 players CSK should target for the IPL 2022 Mega Auction. The list includes a few players from their previous squad while a few names have been added from other franchises as well, whom CSK would certainly target in the coming auction.
It is noteworthy that IPL 2022 Mega Auction is likely to be held on 11 and 12 February in Bangalore.
Top 5 Players CSK should target for IPL 2022 Mega Auction:
Kuldeep Yadav:
Chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav had a terrible few seasons of the IPL. Despite being one of India’s premier spinners, Yadav couldn’t make it to the hit list of the IPL. He was associated with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the past few seasons but just warmed benches.
Kuldeep Yadav poor show started since MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket. Yadav missed valuable insights from behind the stumps which MS Dhoni used to give.
The spinner played just 9 matches in IPL 2019 and 5 matches in the IPL 2020 in which he picked up 4 and 1 wickets respectively. In the recently concluded IPL 2021, KKR overlooked the spinner and went ahead with the likes of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) should consider attempting to buy Kuldeep Yadav from the IPL 2022 Mega Auction. The player won’t be expensive and can provide good contributions.
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Kagiso Rabada:
South African decorated pacer Kagiso Rabada is one of the most dangerous pacers in the current era. Rabada has been phenomenal for his previous franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) where he remained the most economical pacer.
The speedster aided DC to reach its maiden IPL final in 2020. He was the leading wicket-taker in that particular season with 30 scalps in 17 matches. He went past the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult and Rashid Khan, who have been a regular feature of that list.
However, Delhi Capitals ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auction opted to release Kagiso Rabada to the auction. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) would love to have the services of KG Rabada in the IPL 2022.
Rabada is, anyway, going to be a hot pic in the IPL 2022 mega auction. He will certainly put several franchises into a bidding war.
Faf du Plessis:
South African flamboyant opener batsman Faf du Plessis is a must buy player for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2022. A healthy share of CSK’s IPL 2021 success goes to du Plessis’s solid opening contribution.
The batsman mustered 633 runs in 16 IPL matches at a fantastic average of 45.21. In his prolific run, he scored 6 fifty-plus scores.
It was, albeit, anticipated that CSK won’t be able to retain du Plessis owing to the restrictions imposed by the BCCI, however, the franchise would love to have him back on the side in IPL 2022.
Chennai loved how Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis stitched several good opening stands and the franchise will be hoping to see both of them together once again for CSK.
Rahul Tripathi:
CSK dismantled its long-standing strong middle-order ahead of the IPL 2022. Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa have been released by the franchise and a few formidable names would be required to fill up the voids.
Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batsman Rahul Tripathi will be an attractive option for the four times IPL champions. Tripathi did a wonderful job, playing as a middle-order batsman, in turning KKR’s fortunes in the recent IPL 2021.
He took responsibility upon himself to protect the team after early dismissals of the openers and more often than not succeeded in his role. The cricketer scored 397 runs in the 16 IPL 2021 innings at a decent average of 28.35.
Interestingly, Rahul Tripathi has played alongside MS Dhoni in 2016-17 for, now defunct, Rising Pune Supergiants.
Shardul Thakur:
Famously renowned as the ‘Lord’, Shardul Thakur has been the most improved cricketer in recent times. The all-rounder has shown various instances of him being the absolute best when it comes to all-rounder skills.
Thakur was the leading wicket-taker for the Chennai Super Kings in the fourteenth edition of the IPL with 21 wickets under his hat in 16 appearances. He has strongly posed himself as a strong wicket-taking option.
The all-rounder is also a handy and a promising cricketer with his batting skills. Shardul Thakur can add crucial runs at the backend of the innings to power his team to a fine end.
Besides his contributions in the IPL, he has been amidst headlines due to his sensational exploits against Australia and England recently.
CSK should definitely bid for Shardul Thakur in the IPL 2022 mega auction.
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