Chennai Super Kings, the IPL 2021 winning team, lined up for the customary photo-op in Dubai on Friday. Not only the players and support staff, the families of all the players, including the reserves, were called up as Chennai Super Kings celebrated at the end of a long journey or just the beginning considering IPL 2022 mega auctions may see the team composition changing drastically.
Chennai Super Kings Captain MS Dhoni said after their win over KKR in the IPL 2021 final, they would look to build a core that would last them for the next 10 years. So the team may seem to forego their ‘old is gold’ theory and build a side around youth. But that’s not the case as Chennai Super Kings may retain experienced cricketers ahead of IPL 2022 auctions and target others who did well for them.
Chennai Super Kings’ Ravindra Jadeja And Ruturaj Gaikwad Will Be Retained For IPL 2022, MS Dhoni Is The Third Option While Several Senior Pros Will Be Targeted At Auctions: Source
One understands that in the numerous discussions that MS Dhoni had with his team about the next auctions during the course of the IPL, it was decided that Chennai Super Kings would try to retain some of their seniors – even if it is from the auctions — who have performed so brilliantly for a decade. Hence, orange Cap holder Ruturaj Gaikwad and spinner Ravindra Jadeja are almost certain to be retained.
“Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad are the two players who will be retained, come what may…Dhoni is seriously looking at the retention rules and if it is three players, he could be the third. But players like Ambati Rayudu, Faf du Plessis, or even the 38-year-old Dwayne Bravo will be targeted by CSK, along with the likes of Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar,” a source close to the developments told TOI.
MS Dhoni, himself, had left it ambiguous at the prize distribution ceremony, saying he “hadn’t left yet” when the host spoke about his legacy. Among others, while 37-year-old Faf du Plessis played a number of crucial match-winning knocks, including the final on Friday, while the likes of Moeen Ali, Dwayne Bravo, and Ambati Rayudu played crucial hands along the course of the tournament.
In the IPL 2021, the likes of CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (635 runs) and Faf du Plessis (633 runs) finished as leading run-getters in IPL 2021. Moeen Ali (357 runs), Ambati Rayudu (257 runs) also delivered in crunch situations. Dwayne Bravo (14), Deepak Chahar(14), Ravindra Jadeja (13), Josh Hazlewood(11), and Shardul Thakur(21) were amongst the wickets.
MS Dhoni Said That If It Was Not CSK, Many Reserve Players Couldh’ve Walked Into The Franchise
When CSK was returning to the IPL fold in 2018 after a two-year ban for alleged match-fixing, MS Dhoni went against popular opinion and decided to bank on seniors who had “been there, done that”. As a result, in the next 4 years including 2018, CSK won twice(2018, 2021) and came close to winning another, losing by 1 run in 2019 to MI.
“We don’t get too deep into analytics and numbers, we go with gut feel and developing relationships with players. It’s old school but it works for us,” coach Stephen Fleming said.
While sticking with experience was the cornerstone of CSK’s success, the feeling of family within the group also played its part. Robin Uthappa, who played the last four matches, mentioned that the management takes care of the players, even those who are not necessarily part of the playing XI, right through the year.
MS Dhoni, too, in his vote of thanks to the team after the match, spoke about the importance of the players who were not in the playing XI.
“Dhoni said that had it been any other franchise, there are quite a few players in the CSK reserves who would have walked into the XI,” a source said.
The only superstar whose Chennai Super Kings career might be over is Suresh Raina. The left-handed batsman’s form has taken a nose-dive, and his fitness, too, has been a cause of concern. However, with two new teams coming up in IPL 2022, it may not be a surprise if the left-hander finally lands in one of those, provided he wants to keep on playing.
In IPL 2021 final, put in to bat, Chennai Super Kings amassed 192-3 with opener Faf du Plessis anchoring their innings with 86 off 59 balls. Ruturaj Gaikwad made 32, while Robin Uthappa (31) and Moeen Ali (37 not out) chipped in with useful cameos. Kolkata, led by Eoin Morgan, got off to a flying start with a 91-run stand between openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer before the middle order failed again as KKR finished on 165-9.