The mega auction for the IPL 2022 is round the corner and the teams are gearing up for the mega event in full flow. As many as 590 players from across the globe will be going under the hammer on the 12th and 13th of February. All the 10 teams have already announced their retentions and the venue is almost final as well. The three stadiums in Mumbai are expected to host the league matches of the IPL this year. The defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, decided to retain four of their players ahead of the mega auction. MS Dhoni will be back to lead the side for one last time in 2022. Apart from him, Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, and Ruturaj Gaikwad are the other players retained. In this article, we will be looking at the 11 players CSK should target in IPL Mega Auction 2022.
11 players CSK should target in IPL Mega Auction 2022
1) Suresh Raina
The value of Suresh Raina and CSK’s bond isn’t just about the performances on the field. Ever since the inception of the IPL, Raina has been an integral part of the team along with MS Dhoni. Raina wasn’t among runs last season and was dropped during the latter stages of the tournament. Moreover, even after his controversial decision to miss the 2020 season, he is expected to be bought back by the franchise. It would be awkward for the CSK fans to see their Chinna Thala’s name associated with some other franchise after the auction if CSK doesn’t try going for him.
2)Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey was bought for a whopping 11 crores by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018. Though he never lived up to the expectations, the SRH management stuck with him throughout this four-year cycle. Even though he’s been criticized for his batting of late, we think his style of batting is tailor-made for the slow Chennai pitches. Luckily for CSK, Pandey isn’t expected to be expensive this time around, they can surely take their chances with the Karnataka batsman.
Also Read : SRH Retained Players List 2022: Name, Price, Captain And More
3) Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan is expected to be one of the most expensive players at this year’s mega auction. He can open the innings, play in the middle order and keep the wickets. He comes with a rare skill set and is expected to attract a lot of buyers. Hailing from Dhoni’s home state, Jharkhand, Ishan can be a very good choice for the Super Kings. He can be a really good prospect for the team, especially, considering the long-term future.
4) Shah Rukh Khan
Tamil Nadu’s very own, Shah Rukh Khan, is in red hot form. The explosive middle-order batsman single-handedly won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final for Tamil Nadu in 2021. Punjab Kings introduced him to the IPL last year after buying him for massive 5.25 crores. Khan couldn’t play all fourteen games for PBKS but he certainly left his mark and impressed every cricket critic. An explosive lower-order batsman is certainly a player to go for from any team’s point of view.
5) KS Bharat
The Super Kings do not have a backup for MS Dhoni, the wicket-keeper. Apart from Ishan Kishan, KS Bharat could be an ideal choice for them. He is young and he did impress everyone with his batting for RCB last year. Bharat is also seen as the backup wicket-keeper batsman for the Indian test team after Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha. We think he is one of the 11 players CSK should target in the IPL Mega Auction 2022.
Also Read : 5 Shocking Inclusions In IPL 2022 Mega Auction Final List
6) Rishi Dhawan
Rishi Dhawan is one of the least talked about names in this auction. He has been Himachal Pradesh’s top performer in recent years and has contributed with both bat and ball. Rishi can bowl with the new ball and even bat well. Dhawan single-handedly carried Himachal Pradesh in this year’s Vijay Hazare Trophy all through to the final. Eventually, he successfully led Himachal to their first-ever VHT title. He has to be one of the hottest picks at this year’s mega auction.
7) Jason Holder
Jason Holder is another good option for the Super Kings. He is coming off a really good series against England. Holder took 15 wickets from the 5 T20I games against England along with his historic 4 wickets from 4 balls. He was also adjudged as the player of the series. Moreover, he has had two really good IPL seasons in 2020 and 2021. Also, he is a dependable batsman down the order and is a perfect buy for any team. Chepauk’s slow wicket will certainly aid his style of bowling, so we think he has to be one of the 11 players CSK should target in the IPL Mega Auction 2022.
8) Deepak Chahar
This mega auction will see a lot of talented Indian fast bowlers go under the hammer. Deepak was bought by the CSK in 2018 and was one of the most consistent performers for them. However, CSK wasn’t able to retain him this time. Deepak’s career is on a rise and he is expected to be an expensive player at the auction. He can bowl good 3 overs inside the powerplay and is a handy batter as well. This makes him a rare commodity in the auction. CSK might try to get him back in the team for this season.
9) Harshal Patel
The purple cap holder of IPL 2021, Harshal Patel, was a big absentee from RCB’s list of retained players. He has evolved as a really good T20 bowler with his slower ones and loopy yorkers. He is the kind of bowler who will love bowling on Chepauk’s slow pitches. Being a decent batter as well, he is expected to fetch a good sum of money from the auction.
Also Read : MI Retained Players List 2022: Name, Price, Captain And More
10) Kuldeep Yadav
MS Dhoni had a very important role in building Kuldeep’s career during the 2017-18 international season. Ever since the World Cup match against England in 2019, things have gone south for the chinaman bowler. Also, CSK doesn’t have a wrist spinner in their arsenal and Kuldeep can be a very good choice for the team.
11) Marco Jansen
South Africa’s latest fast bowling sensation, Marco Jansen, will be a hot pick in the auction. He is a left-arm pacer who can swing the ball on both sides apart from using the slower ones wisely. His height, which is over seven feet, provides a unique touch to his bowling. Tall fast bowlers like him and Holder, usually benefit from slow pitches, thus we think he will be a good buy for CSK in the long run.
Which are the other cricketers you think CSK should buy at this mega auction? Do let us know in the comments section below!
