Who Are The Costliest Buys for Chennai Super Kings?
CSK have their eyes set on a fifth IPL title i the upcoming season (IPLT20.com)
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have established themselves as one of the most successful franchises in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). CSK’s unprecedented success can be credited to their impeccable business sense when it comes to player acquisitions in the auction.
Over the years, they have made several strategic purchases, which have helped them build a formidable team and clinch numerous titles. Unlike other teams, CSK has always been cautious with their spending, avoiding exorbitant sums and relying on their tried-and-tested core players to lead the charge.
However, in a surprising move, CSK broke their longstanding tradition of restraint and splurged a record-breaking amount on a single player during the IPL 2023 mini auction. The Chennai management left no stone unturned in securing the services of England's all-rounder, Ben Stokes, for a staggering INR 16.25 crore. This marked a significant departure from their usual approach of strategic, low-cost purchases, and sent shockwaves across the IPL fraternity.
As the new season gets underway, fans around the world eagerly await to see whether CSK's high-risk, high-reward strategy will pay off, or whether their longstanding philosophy of strategic, low-cost purchases will once again prove to be the winning formula.
The Men in Yellow are gearing up to face Gujarat Titans in the opening match of IPL 2023 on March 31. Ahead of the mouth-watering clash, let’ a trip down memory lane to examine CSK's top five costliest buys in IPL auction history
5. Kedar Jadhav: INR 7.8 Crore in 2018
As the 2018 IPL Mega Auction heated up, CSK set their sights on bolstering their middle-order. As a result, they went after Kedar Jadhav, a seasoned white-ball player who had shared the pitch with the CSK captain while playing for India. In a bold move, CSK shelled out a whopping 7.8 crore rupees to secure Jadhav's services for the 2018 season.
Kedar Jadhav's stint with CSK was underwhelming (IPLT20.com)
However, fate had other plans as Jadhav suffered an injury after just one game, and his performances in the subsequent 2019 and 2020 IPL seasons were lackluster at best as he scored just 248 runs for CSK in 23 games. With the team realizing they had overpaid for Jadhav's underwhelming performances, they had no choice but to release him ahead of the next auction.
4. Krishnappa Gowtham: INR 9.25 Crore in 2021
With the departure of Harbhajan Singh, the Men in Yellow were in dire need of an off-spinner, and the highly sought-after Krishnappa Gowtham was the answer to their prayers. The bidding war between CSK and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the IPL 2021 auction was intense, but SRH had to concede defeat due to their limited purse of 10.75 CR.
Krishnappa Gowtham couldn't cement his place in CSK's playing XI (Twitter)
CSK emerged victorious with their whopping bid of INR 9.25 crores, making Gowtham the most expensive uncapped player ever, and the second-most expensive purchase for the franchise at the time. However, despite his impressive price tag, Gowtham spent most of his time warming the bench during the 2021 season, and only managed to feature in four matches in the following year, where he picked up a modest tally of five wickets. As a result, CSK made the tough decision to release the spinning all-rounder ahead of the IPL 2022, marking the end of his stint with the franchise.
3. Ravindra Jadeja: INR 9.72 Crore in 2012
Back in 2012, CSK took a gamble by shelling out a whopping INR 9.72 crores (which was converted from a staggering USD 2 million) to secure Ravindra Jadeja's services. But it was a gamble that paid off handsomely, as the all-rounder quickly established himself as one of MS Dhoni's most trusted performers.
Ravindra Jadeja has been CSK's mainstay for a decade (IPLT20.com)
The southpaw has consistently been a top performer for the Super Kings, with over 300 runs to his name in every IPL season since his debut campaign. His contributions with the ball and in the field have also been instrumental in the team's success. After a brief stint at the Gujarat Lions, Jadeja was snapped up by CSK once again, and has remained a key player for the franchise.
2. Deepak Chahar: INR 14 Crore in 2022
In the 2022 mega auction, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) flexed their financial muscles and shattered their own record for the most expensive buy in IPL history by acquiring the services of Deepak Chahar for a jaw-dropping INR 14 crore. This was a massive increase from his previous price of INR 80 lakh, which CSK had paid to acquire him in the 2018 auction.
Deepak Chahar missed out on IPL 2022 due to an injury (IPLT20.com)
The right-arm pacer has been a reliable wicket-taker for the team, having bagged 58 wickets in 58 matches, and it was no wonder that CSK wanted to keep him in their ranks. CSK outbid everyone else and secured the talented bowler's services. Unfortunately, the star bowler missed the season due to an injury, but he will be determined to make up for lost time and contribute to CSK's quest for a fifth IPL title in the upcoming season.
1. Ben Stokes: INR 16.25 Crore in 2023
Ben Stokes’ skills with both bat and ball have made him a hot commodity in the IPL auctions over the years, and he recently became the most expensive player ever picked up by the Chennai Super Kings. With a proven track record of winning games for England across all formats, there is no doubt that Stokes will bring his A-game to the IPL.
Ben Stokes will once again play under MS Dhoni after their stint together at Rising Pune Supergiants (Twitter)
The dynamic all-rounder has already notched up 920 runs and 28 wickets across 43 games - a testament to his all-round abilities. All in all, there is no doubt that Stokes is a valuable addition to the CSK, and could well prove to be the perfect player for the franchise.
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