IPL 2024 Auction: Five players Chennai Super Kings can target, remaining purse and more

Chennai Super Kings keep defying the odds and the critics in Indian Premier League (IPL). After a two-year ban, they roared back to win the IPL title in 2018 and earlier this year, the MS Dhoni-led side won a record-equalling fifth trophy to show that the ‘Daddy’s Army’ is far from done.

The 2024 season will be about repeating the success of 2023. Only once have CSK managed to defend their title, in 2011.

Ahead of the 2024 player auction, Chennai released a total of eight players including some big names like Ben Stokes and Ambati Rayudu. Stokes has pulled out of IPL 2024, while Rayudu has retired from competitive cricket.

We take a look at what could be their strategy for the IPL 2024 mini-auction on 19 December in Dubai and every other essential detail.

CSK current squad: Ajay Mandal, Ajinkya Rahane, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Mitchell Santner, Moeen Ali, MS Dhoni, Mukesh Choudhary, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shaik Rasheed, Shivam Dube, Simarjeet Singh, Tushar Deshpande

CSK released players: Ben Stokes, Dwaine Pretorius, K. Bhagath Varma, Subhranshu Senapati, Ambati Rayudu, Kyle Jamieson, Akash Singh, Sisanda Magala

Purse left: Rs 31.4 crore

Slots remaining: Six (three overseas)

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CSK Auction Strategy:

The biggest focus for CSK in the auction would be to bring in a finisher and all-rounder who can come in late in the batting order. Dhoni’s side has a stable core but a couple of positions need replacements and additions. Apart from middle-order batter and all-rounder, overseas pacers could also be their targets given they released Jamieson and Magala.

Five players CSK could target:

Shardul Thakur

Thakur has had his best in IPL at CSK under Dhoni’s captaincy and the all-rounder could once again be high on Chennai’s wish list. He has a knack for taking crucial wickets and could dish out some big blows from lower down the order and that makes him the ideal candidate.

Shahrukh Khan

Punjab Kings releasing Shahrukh Khan was a surprise but it offers CSK an opportunity to add a local lad to their squad. Not only that, Shahrukh scored at a strike rate of 166 last season and could be the finisher for CSK but he will be in high demand during the auction. The Chennai-born player can also bowl some off-spin which adds to his value.

Kaun Nair

The 32-year-old batter hasn’t lived up to the expectations but we are well aware of how players can transform under the guidance of Dhoni. We saw how Ajinkya Rahane rediscovered his form last season after moving to CSK. A batter with rock-solid technique, Nair could be a good squad player who can when required play the role Ambati Rayudu performed for the franchise. He of course brings in a lot of IPL and international experience.

Chris Woakes

A proven all-rounder from the international arena would be a good fit at CSK. Woakes can swing the ball and hit crucial runs from lower down the order and these qualities could get CSK attracted to him.

Gerald Coetzee

It’s no secret that CSK need an overseas pacer and Coetzee is one of the hottest properties right now. The pacer took 20 wickets on his ODI World Cup debut and also had three against India in the second T20I on 12 December. Coetzee has a knack for taking wickets and it’s quality that is much appreciated among IPL teams.