I don't think CSK will make a reshuffle next year: Ashish Nehra

The three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are on the receiving end of the trolls and criticism for their disastrous run in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2020). The Yellow Army’s winning formula of ‘experience over youth’ hasn’t gone right in this season as they have failed to excel in all the three facets of the game be it bowling, batting or fielding.

CSK is the first time to get out from the race of making it to the playoffs and are languishing at the bottom of the points table with just 4 wins in 12 games. This has raised quite a few eyebrows in the cricket fraternity and many believe that the team needs a complete change to come back stronger in the next edition of the T20 extravaganza.

There are speculations that the management is planning for a big reshuffle and is looking forward to replacing the old players with the young talent. However, the former CSK pacer Ashish Nehra believes that no such changes will be made as the age bracket of 30-35 is no criteria for the success of a cricket player. He further reckoned that MS Dhoni is a smart player and he will come back stronger in the next edition.

I hope we see the old CSK again next season: Ashish Nehra

“MS Dhoni knows how to take it in his stride. We are talking about a guy who is mentally strong. I don’t think it’s that big a deal for him. Every time, you don’t qualify it hurts. But I hope we see MS Dhoni again and see the same old CSK,” Ashish Nehra said as quoted by India Today.

“I don’t think so (big reshuffle happening next year). 30-35 is not old. Somebody like me, I played IPL until I was 39. And if with my body, as a fast bowler, I can play at the age of 39, they can play for longer. Maybe Shane Watson… we still hope that he is there next year. But apart from that, I don’t think they will look to shuffle it too much,” he added.

Further in the interaction, the former pacer stated that one bad season should not be the criteria to judge one of the most successful franchises in the 13-year history of the Indian Premier League. Notably, this is the first time that CSK hasn’t qualified for the playoffs.

“We have seen in the IPL, people talk about CSK (players) being 30-35 and in the wrong side of 35. But we have seen what they are capable of doing. It’s just one season and I hope we see the old CSK again next season, Nehra said while talking to Star Sports.