The Chennai Super Kings are one of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL). One of the biggest reasons behind this is their ability to effectively acquire the perfect additions, according to squad requirements.
There is limited emphasis on acquiring big-name players or unnecessary surplus additions. This has often resulted in them being extremely inactive during the auction. The recent auction was one such occasion, with the Super Kings investing in only four players.
Additions during the auction:
Experienced spinner Piyush Chawla was purchased for Rs 6.75 crore, making him the most expensive domestic addition. The Super Kings had indicated a willingness to acquire the cricketer even in the previous edition. However, they were forced to beat a hasty retreat after the Knight Riders used the Right to Match (RTM) card at the last moment.
English all-rounder Sam Curran was the second high-profile addition after being signed for Rs 5.5 crore. The Super Kings were pushed into a fierce bidding war with the Delhi Capitals, before sealing the deal.
Curran will certainly be able to ensure a quality performance in the death overs. This is of great importance considering the woes of the Super Kings last season.
The lanky cricketer can also be expected to deliver the goods down the order, serving as the perfect backup for Dwayne Bravo.
The third addition is Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood has been signed for his base price of Rs 2 crore. The Australian pacer is highly rated for his exploits with the red ball, but he’s equally good with the white ball. The bowler can be used in the powerplay with the new ball, as well as pitch in during the death overs.
The final addition is local boy Ravi Kishore who has been signed for his base price of Rs 20 Lakhs. Kishore will be handy at Chepauk, considering his ability to bowl quicker through the air and in-depth knowledge of the pitch conditions.
IPL 2020 squad:
Existing squad: MS Dhoni (c), Imran Tahir, Lungi Ngidi, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, N Jagadeesan, M Vijay, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Monu Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, KM Asif.
Curran certainly seems like the trump card for the Super Kings and a long-term addition at that, with his glowing reputation and ability to bowl slow cutters.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium is known for its slow tracks resulting in low scoring clashes, making him an effective addition.
Now we are truly 24/7 #yellove! #PrideOfT20 #WhistlePodu #SuperFam pic.twitter.com/Y1xISdIvvD
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) December 19, 2019
Here is the lineup expected to walk out for the opening clash, considering the availability of every player:
Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir, Harbhajan Singh.
Written By: Karthik Rao.
