Chennai Super Kings who have won the IPL thrice didn’t have a great last season as they failed to make the playoffs for the first time in the history of the IPL. Chennai Super Kings has been one of the most consistent teams in the history of the IPL but last year they struggled to a huge extent as their veteran players failed to deliver.
Even though there is not a Fresh Auction before the 2021 IPL season, CSK would look to make some notable changes to their squad. They would like to release some big players which will allow them to buy some good players in the upcoming Mini Auction. Not only that, but they will also try and make a few trades in the trading window which would help their squad. The trading window for the IPL 2021 season will be open till 4th February, so let’s have a look at five players CSK should buy if they are released in the trading window.
5. Mayank Markande
Chennai Super Kings had bought Piyush Chawla for a hefty price in the last year’s auction. Chawla didn’t have a great IPL and CSK might think of releasing him ahead of the Auction. CSK would need an Indian leg-spinner and a young Mayank Markande could be a great option.
The leg-spinner who is with RR had a great maiden IPL season as he got a lot of wickets for MI. In his debut game, he had dismissed the CSK skipper MS Dhoni with a googly which MS failed to read. He didn’t play a single game for RR last season and CSK should look to buy him in the trade window.
4. Siddarth Kaul
CSK has the pace duo of Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur but they would want more variety, especially if the IPL 2021 doesn’t have the home and away format. CSK has a lot of spinners but doesn’t have many Indian pacers. Kaul has been a good bowler in the IPL and had done well for SRH until last season.
In IPL 2020, he played only one game and so SRH would agree to trade him to CSK. Kaul has pace and can bowl the yorker at the death. He could be a fine bowler under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
3. Basil Thampi
Another option for a similar role is Kerala fast bowler Basil Thampi. Just like Kaul, Thampi is with the SRH team and didn’t play many games in the last IPL. Thampi is a young pacer who bowls with heart, and he impressed many people with his yorker in his first season.
MS Dhoni has a knack for nurturing fast bowlers in the IPL and Thampi should get the guidance of the great man. CSK can buy Basil Thampi if SRH is ready to release him in the trade window.
2. Jayant Yadav
CSK missed the services of Harbhajan Singh in the last IPL and still, there isn’t any clarity whether he will be available for the next season. More than his availability, the question is over his match fitness as he hasn’t played any competitive cricket for a long time. CSK should try and get in a young off-spinner in place of Harbhajan Singh.
Mumbai Indians off-spinner Jayant Yadav wouldn’t be a bad option. He is a smart bowler, and he has made an impact whenever he has played for MI in the last two years. CSK should target Jayant Yadav in the trade window.
1. Deepak Hooda
A lot of questions were raised over Kedar Jadhav and his batting style in the last IPL. He was bought for a huge amount and so there is a high chance that he would release before the Mini Auction. CSK would need a young replacement for Jadhav and who better than Deepak Hooda.
Hooda fits Kedar Jadhav’s role as he bats in the lower middle-order where he can start hitting from ball one, and he can contribute with the ball if required. Hooda came late in the KXIP side last season and did well in the last couple of games. There is no doubt that CSK should try and get Deepak Hooda in their team before the next IPL.
