Imran Tahir, who was the purple cap holder in the last year 2019’s Indian Premier League with 26 wickets in 17 matches but is yet to feature in a single IPL match for Chennai Super Kings after eight matches although CEO Kasi Viswanathan reckons that he may be soon in playing XI as soon as wickets start to offer turn for spinners.
CSK is persisting with 2 foreign batsmen and two all-rounders among foreign recruits but haven’t been able to win in many matches after their batting unit have failed, and the bowlers have been inconsistent too. But they returned to winning ways after beating David Warner led SunRisers Hyderabad by 20 runs to revenge their seven-run loss in the first leg. CSK skipper MS Dhoni named Piyush Chawla as the only change replacing Narayan Jagadeesan in the XI.
Imran Tahir Will Be Considered As Soon As Wickets Turn In 2nd Half Of IPL: CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan.
MS Dhoni thought about Imran Tahir as one of the four foreigners for CSK but ultimately left him out considering a combination of batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders. CSK went in with Faf Du Plessis, Shane Watson, Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo in the match against SRH.
“He will definitely come into the picture as we go ahead. Right now, with the conditions on offer, the team composition has been planned with two foreigners at the top as pure batsmen and then two pace bowling all-rounders. But he will come in with the wickets starting to take turn in the second half. You have the 4-foreigner restriction so you always plan according to the conditions on offer,” Kasi Viswanathan explained.
“It has been difficult sitting out, but I have to be honest, I am enjoying and I know how we go about it as a team. I am happy if we are doing well and waiting for my opportunity and hopefully will be ready when I get it. Will be a good challenge playing against the young Indian talent. I see the pitches have started spinning a little bit,” Imran Tahir told the commentators during the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Though Faf Du Plessis and Dwayne Bravo scored ducks, Shane Watson top-scored with 42 and Sam Curran scored a brisk 31. Dwayne Bravo, however, picked two wickets conceding 25 runs in three overs. Imran Tahir has picked up as many as 79 wickets in 55 matches averaging 20.39. Imran Tahir is also available for mid-season transfer.
Kasi Viswanathan: CSK Have Not Gone Through Rules Of Mid Season Transfer Window As CSK Are Not Looking At Any Player
The mid-season transfer window is a relatively new concept and unlike previous year, this time around capped and uncapped cricketers who have played two matches or less can be transferred to opponent teams if both teams mutually agree in consent.
“CSK has never brought or released players in the mid-season transfer window and we have honestly not even gone through the rules and regulations that come into play if we are looking at a transfer. We are not looking at any player,” he explained.
“It is a competition after all and I don’t think anyone would want to loan players to another franchise. Some might be playing and others might not, but all players are picked at the auction with numerous plans in mind and for different situations that might arise during the course of the tournament. You do not go in with just Plan A. You have an A, B, C and D,” he said.
A lot of players like KXIP’s Chris Gayle, CSK’s Imran Tahir and Josh Hazlewood, RR’s Varun Aaron and David Miller, RCB’s Moeen Ali, Dale Steyn and Chris Morris, MI’s Chris Lynn and Mitchell McClenaghan , KKR’s Tom Banton and Lockie Ferguson, DC’s Ajinkya Rahane, SRH’s Mohammad Nabi are some of the prominent names up for grabs.
The mid-season transfer was to be started after all teams played seven matches each which was completed on 12th October. Last season too the rules were in place for uncapped players to be loaned but no team loaned any player.