CSK unveils "Super Kings Academy" for budding cricketers in Chennai and Salem

In a heartening development, four-time IPL champions and the most consistent franchise in the history of the cash-rich league, the Chennai Super Kings, have opened "Super Kings Academy" cricket coaching centers for the budding young boy and girl cricketers.

The academies have been opened in Salem and other parts of the city.

To mark the historic occasion, current CSK spearhead Deepak Chahar, former player and current batting coach Michael Hussey and CEO Kasi Viswanathan virtually attended the inauguration ceremony, where they interacted with the students.

On occasion, Chahar said that his experience at the Super Kings has helped him improve both as a person as well as an athlete.

Chahar has been the spearhead of CSK's bowling ever since he joined the franchise in 2018. The defending champions retained him at a whopping sum of Rs 14 Crore at the mega-auction, but an unfortunate injury has derailed his participation in the ongoing season.

"I have improved as a person and as an athlete after joining the CSK family. I can give that guarantee to everyone, the parents and kids I don't know how many will play for the country or the state but there is one guarantee that you will surely become a better person and all of you will be treated equally," he said as per CSK's press release.

"Obviously, there are a lot of players playing in the country but the most important thing is to express yourself and you will have that freedom," Deepak Chahar added.

Hussey, meanwhile, reckoned that the academy would provide an excellent opportunity for young boys and girls to be a part of something special.

"Everyone has got an opportunity to improve their game. It is a chance to improve their cricket, which is important, but also a chance to improve as people," he said.

Former seamer and bowling coach L Balaji said:

"CSK has always unearthed a lot of talent in the past. There have always been players who have not played much but suddenly they will come out good and go on to play for India. The Super Kings Academy is a wonderful opportunity for boys and girls."

Meanwhile, CSK are in desperate need of something special on the field. They have lost their first three games and will now face the SunRisers Hyderabad on Saturday in a bid to claim their first points of the season.