RETENTIONS IN CSK

THREE RETENTIONS CSK WOULD MAKE.

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is nearly half-a-year away but the franchises have already started laying out the groundwork.With the mega auction coming up, the preparations for the tournament are in full swing, with the teams finalising the list of players they want to retain and sending the rest of the names to go under the hammer.As per the retention policy of BCCI, franchises can retain up to four players and the final list has to be submitted by the teams by November 30. As the mega auction is all set for next month, it remains to be seen teams will back which four main players for further seasons. Dhoni’s retention for three years has made it clear that he will be seen donning the yellow colours again as he stated that he hasn’t yet left.

According to reports, reigning IPL champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have almost made up their mind about four players who they want to save from the bidding war. As expected the franchise has decided to defend their title next year under the captaincy of their talismanic leader Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Besides Dhoni, the four-time champions have decided to retain this year’s Orange Cap winner Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, while the fourth name is yet to be finalised the franchise’s first-choice for their last retention spot is England all-rounder Moeen Ali but if he doesn’t agree then they will approach his compatriot Sam Curran with the same proposal.

CSK have retained their legendary skipper, MS Dhoni, for the next three years alongside retaining star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Orange Cap winner of IPL 2021 Ruturaj Gaikwad has also been retained by the franchise and talks are on for the fourth spot to another all-rounder Moeen Ali.

Dhoni will be the first name on CSK’s retention list. The 40 year old led the Super Kings to their fourth IPL title recently and even though his batting has waned considerably in the last couple of years, his captaincy continues to be top-notch.Dhoni is expected to play his last season for CSK next year and he looks keen to sign off his legendary career in front of his home fans.
He managed just 114 runs at an average of 16 and strike rate of 106 in this year’s IPL, but loyal CSK fans are longing to get one last glimpse of ‘Thala Dhoni’ at his home ground in Chennai.

Gaikwad was on the verge of falling by the wayside after he started with three successive failures in his first three games for CSK last year. But Dhoni stuck with the young batter and he bounced back with three half-centuries in a row in the next three to showcase his potential.He followed the same template in this year’s IPL too, with three failures to start the tournament. But once he got going he proved unstoppable and finished with 635 runs, at a strike rate of 136, with four fifties and a century.His impressive showing in the IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy for Maharashtra earned him a call-up to the Indian team for the New Zealand T20s.
Calm under pressure and a steady head on his shoulders, the 24 year old is very much in the Dhoni mould and could be next in line to take over as CSK captain after the legend hangs his boots.He is definitely one for the future, not only for CSK but also for Indian cricket.

Jadeja has been another key and consistent performer for CSK in the last two IPLs.Jadeja tallied 200-plus runs in both IPL seasons, while also consistently chipping away at the wickets.The left-hander has also emerged as a finisher with the bat in the death overs, and his consistent bowling makes him one of the most wanted players in T20 cricket.Surely, CSK will want to retain him, else getting him back at the auction will not be easy and cheap.

Moeen enjoyed his breakthrough season in this year’s IPL.The England all-rounder, who was signed up for Rs 7 crore at the auction, proved his worth with both bat and ball.
The left-hander hit 357 runs at a strike rate of 137, while picking up six wickets at an economy rate of 6.35.The 34-year-old’s all-round abilities could see him get the nod ahead of Faf du Plessis, 37, who CSK could still get back the auction.

“Still, I haven’t left behind,” concluded MS Dhoni after winning the IPL 2021 Trophy for the fourth time. The four players CSK are likely to retain could be: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali (overseas).