• Home
  • Cricket Analysis
  • Ipl 2024 Auction Shardul Thakur Back Here Is How Csk Will Approach The Ipl 2024 Auction

IPL 2024 Auction | Shardul Thakur Back? Here Is How CSK Will Approach The IPL 2024 Auction

image-lptuwrvuChennai Super Kings won the IPL in 2023 (Source: x.com)

The IPL 2024 auction is fast approaching, and the teams are gearing up to pick up the best players, suiting their style of play and strategy. 

In this article, we will talk about the most successful team and the league's reigning champions, Chennai Super Kings. After a lacklustre show in IPL 2023, MS Dhoni and his men bounced back, winning the tournament last year. The team management hopes to repeat last year's antics and end the season as the team with the most IPL trophies. 

For More Such Reads, Click Here.

The 'Men In Yellow' have always maintained a strong core and built their team around it. With the 2024 season approaching, they have opted to go with the same strategy again. With Ben Stokes out of the equation, they will look for a solid all-round replacement and try to fill a few of their weak spots. 

Before we move on and analyse the squad to see which players fit best in the CSK puzzle, let us look at their available resources. 


CSK - IPL 2024 Retained Players

MS Dhoni (c) (wk), Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway (wk), Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana.

Purse Remaining: INR 31.40 Cr
Slots Available: 6
Overseas Slots: 3


IPL 2024 - CSK Squad Analysis

To decode CSK's possible strategy for the IPL 2024 auction, we must first analyse their current squad. 

Strength of CSK for IPL 2024

Strong and dependable top-order: With Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway opening the innings, team management needs little to consider the top order. Also, Ajinkya Rahane's presence lessens the team's concernteam's concern regarding the position. 

Depth in spin department:  The presence of Maheesh Theekshana and Ravindra Jadeja gives a solid look to the team's spin department. Moeen Ali, with his part-time off-spins, can be effective for the team, especially on the Chennai wicket. Also, Mitchell Santner's presence as a backup spinner makes the CSK spin department one of the tournament's strongest. 


Weakness of CSK for IPL 2024

Lack of depth in the all-rounder section: The presence and the proper utilisation of a plethora of all-rounders have been one of the biggest strengths of the CSK team over the years. Dwyane Bravo has been one of their pillars; after his retirement, the team management tried to fill the gap with Ben Stokes. But due to injury concerns, the relationship between Stokes and the five-time IPL champions quickly turned volatile. 

With Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali being their prime all-rounders, it might look like CSK are pretty strong in this department. But the team needs more diversity and depth when considering the all-rounders' section. 

Lack of a consistent and dynamic middle-order batter: Ambati Rayudu has announced his retirement after the last season of IPL. His absence has left a hole in the team's batting line-up. CSK needs a player in the middle order who can come out at any stage and bat according to the game's situation, bailing them out of pressure.


Areas to fill for CSK in IPL 2024 Auction

  1. A quality all-rounder : The CSK team management will now seek a dependable all-rounder, preferably one who bowls pace. The search for a perfect candidate to fill the shoes of Dwyane Bravo will be there in the minds of the team management. 
  2. A dynamic Indian middle-order batter: Subramaniam Badrinath and Ambati Rayudu have played this role for CSK so far. The team management will be looking for a player to fill this spot.
  3. A backup opening bowler: The ability of Deepak Chahar to pick up wickets in the opening overs has been one of the biggest strengths of CSK in the past few years. But his injury proneness might insist the team management keep a backup bowler ready.


Possible Target Players for CSK in IPL 2024 Auction

  1. Shardul Thakur: Shardul Thakur was a part of the CSK team and saw his rise from the franchise. They also tried their best to hold onto him but could not as he went over budget in the bidding. CSK might bring him back into the franchise as he can be handy with the bat, and his bowling is the perfect piece that completes the team's puzzle. 
  2. Umesh Yadav: This Indian pacer might be the backup new ball bowler that CSK needs. Umesh has proven himself with the new ball over the years and, if needed, can be a lethal weapon for the Chennai-based franchise.
  3. Gerald Coetzee: Makhaya Ntini, Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus, Lungi Ngidi - CSK have shown an affinity towards keeping one express overseas fast bowler in their team. Gerald Coetzee might be in their plans, as he has done well for the franchise in the SA20.
  4. Daniel Sams: A slow, medium bowler with the expertise to bowl in the death overs and a lower-order big hitter - the perfect description of the role Dwayne Bravo used to play for CSK. As they are looking for a replacement for the West Indian, Sams might be the ideal candidate.
  5. Dwaine Pretorius: Pretorius was a part of the team last year. He was the probable bet of the team to carry Bravo's legacy forward. CSK might opt to repurchase him during the auction. 
  6. Manish Pandey: This Indian batter might be the like-to-like replacement for Ambati Rayudu. Manish Pandey is an experienced campaigner, and under Dhoni's leadership, we might see a rejuvenation of his career.
  7. KS Bharat: Bharat also looks like a good candidate for Rayudu's replacement. Also, the fact that he is an Indian wicketkeeper might act in his favour, as it is not long before we see MSD walking out for the last time, donning the CSK jersey.