MS Dhoni Wastes Talent? 3 Ex-CSK Youngsters Who Reaped Rewards For Other Teams

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Washington Sundar, MS Dhoni and B Sai Sudharsan [Source: AP Photos]Washington Sundar, MS Dhoni and B Sai Sudharsan [Source: AP Photos]

Chennai Super Kings' youth academy has been a breeding ground for exceptional cricket talent. However, a concerning pattern has emerged where some of its most promising graduates have found success not with CSK, but with rival franchises. Here's a look at three notable examples.

3. Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar, who developed his skills in the CSK academy, has built an impressive IPL career across multiple franchises. His bowling statistics show consistent performance with 39 wickets across 9 seasons, maintaining an economy rate of 7.60.

While his batting has been inconsistent, with standout seasons like 2018, he has demonstrated versatility that could have benefited CSK. Instead, he flourished elsewhere, particularly with Royal Challengers Bangalore.

2. Shahrukh Khan

Shahrukh Khan represents another missed opportunity for CSK. Since his academy days, he has developed into a formidable batter with an impressive strike rate of 145.58 across his IPL career.

His 2023 season was particularly noteworthy, scoring 156 runs with an average of 22.29 and a striking at a strike rate of 165.96. Despite showing these power-hitting capabilities, CSK never secured his services, allowing him to shine for Punjab Kings and other franchises.

1. Sai Sudharsan

Perhaps the most recent example is Sai Sudharsan. After being mentored by Ambati Rayudu during his academy days and showing promise on international youth tours, Sudharsan found himself with Gujarat Titans rather than CSK.

His development from a "chubby" academy player to a fit, skilled IPL performer represents a significant development opportunity that CSK missed capitalizing on.

A Flawed Talent Strategy?

CSK's approach to talent development shows a concerning disconnect. While investing in grassroots development through their academy, they've repeatedly failed to incorporate these same talents into their main squad.

This disconnect raises questions about CSK's long-term strategy. Despite being one of the most successful IPL franchises, their reluctance to trust and develop their own academy products undermines their youth investment.

As these three players continue to find success with rival teams, CSK might need to reconsider their approach to talent retention and development if they wish to maintain their competitive edge in future seasons.