Chennai Super Kings in action [Source: IPLT20.com]
The first day of the much-awaited IPL 2025 mega auction was conducted smoothly in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24, Sunday. Ten IPL franchises engaged in multiple bidding wars to get their desired players and settle their core ahead of the tournament's next season.
Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings were pretty active on the first day of the mega auction event. The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side bagged Noor Ahmad for INR 10 Crores while securing the services of some impactful players like Rahul Tripathi, Devon Conway, Ravichandran Ashwin and Khaleel Ahmed.
So, considering Chennai Super Kings have 13 slots to fill, they are expected to go after several big names to strengthen their squad. As the auction nears, here are three renowned players CSK will target on day 2 of the event.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Base Price- 2 Cr)
Why will CSK target Bhuvneshwar Kumar?
- After releasing Deepak Chahar, Chennai Super Kings are searching for a quality new-ball bowler to spearhead their powerplay bowling.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar can fulfil their quest, as he is an experienced swing bowler. CSK have already bagged Khaleel Ahmed and if they get Bhuvneshwar, the five-time champions will have a formidable fast bowling lineup, with Matheesha Pathirana being their death-overs specialist.
Sam Curran (Base Price- 2 Cr)
Why will CSK target Sam Curran?
- Chennai Super Kings currently have a robust top-order comprising impactful batters like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi and Rachin Ravindra. While Shivam Dube and Vijay Shankar will be their enforcers in the middle overs, the five-time champions need a fast-bowling all-rounder to balance their side.
- In such a scenario, Sam Curran emerges as a really good option for the Super Kings. Apart from bowling across phases, Curran can be handy with the bat as a finisher. He has previously played for CSK and it won't be surprising if he returns to the franchise.
Manoj Bhandage (30 lakhs)
Why will CSK target Manoj Bhandage?
- Another surprise pick on CSK's radar could be Karnataka's all-rounder Manoj Bhandage. The left-handed batter showcased prolific form in the Maharaja T20 league, amassing 292 runs at a blistering strike rate of 213.13.
- Apart from his hard-hitting skills, Bhandage's ability to chip in with a few overs with his right-arm medium pace bowling. The Super Kings have a tendency to prefer multi-dimensional players and it won't be surprising if they bid for Bhandage in the mega auction.
Chennai Super Kings' Some Other Probable Targets On Day 2: Daryl Mitchell, Deepak Hooda, Tushar Deshpande, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Jhathavedh Subramanyan, Tim David