‘Nothing like it if you can get Ajinkya Rahane’ - MS Dhoni’s message to CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan ahead of IPL auction

Veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane has already become the talk of the town in the ongoing IPL 2023. The 34-year-old is in remarkable form with the bat, scoring 224 runs in just six matches at a strike rate of 189.83 - the second-highest by any cricketer who has played at least 100 deliveries this season. 

Now interestingly, Rahane is not someone who is known for his exploits in T20 cricket. In 15 previous editions of the IPL, the opener has managed an average strike rate of 120.7 in scoring 4074 runs. Despite so, the Chennai Super Kings franchise wasn’t hesitant to spend INR 50 lakhs in order to sign the cricketer in the IPL auction. Speaking about their intentions behind this move, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan revealed that it was skipper MS Dhoni’s idea as the latter even mentioned that it would be great for the team to have Rahane in the mix.

“Nothing like it if you can get him', MS told me when I asked him, and that is why we bid for Rahane," Viswanathan was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Meanwhile, the call was indeed a risky one as Rahane managed to score only 112 runs in eight matches in the last edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, MS Dhoni kept his faith in the cricketer as he proved to be one of the match-winners for CSK in the current season of the IPL. 

Chennai Super Kings to host Punjab Kings on April 30

After losing to Rajasthan Royals by 32 runs, Chennai Super Kings have slipped in the IPL Points Table as they are currently at number four. Next up, the MS Dhoni-led side will host Punjab Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 30.

Notably, Punjab Kings suffered a 56-run defeat at the hands of Lucknow Super Giants in their last match. Chasing a mammoth total of 258 runs, the Shikhar Dhawan-led side posted 201 runs on board and with that, they suffered their fourth defeat of the season.