IPL 2020: CSK not looking at any player in mid-season transfer window, confirms CEO Kasi Viswanathan

As the clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ended on October 12 (Monday), the mid-transfer window for IPL 2020 opened. It was speculated that the three-time champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be looking forward to adding an Indian middle-order batsman to their squad as a replacement to Suresh Raina.

Also, the batting line-up of the team looks ordinary this year due to which the franchise is standing at the sixth position in the points table with three wins in eight matches. However, clearing the air, CSK’s CEO Kasi Viswanathan revealed that the team isn’t interested in making use of the mid-season transfer window. He believes that their squad is quite competent and the team management will never think about trading a player in the middle of the league.

“CSK have never bought or released players in the mid-season transfer window and we have honestly not even gone through the rules and regulations that come into play if we are looking at a transfer. We are not looking at any player.” Viswanathan said as quoted by Times of India.

Every player is picked with some plan in auction, says CSK CEO

Kasi further added that it is highly unlikely that any franchise will make use of this window as they enter the tournament with certain plans and thoughts and no team would like to give away their players just like that. Also, the franchises put in a lot of thinking behind choosing the players in the auction considering all types of situations that may arise in the competition.

“It is a competition after all and I don’t think anyone would want to loan players to another franchise. Some might be playing and others might not, but all players are picked at the auction with numerous plans in mind and for different situations that might arise during the course of the tournament. You do not go in with just Plan A. You have an A, B, C and D.” he said.

Further in the interaction, the CSK’s CEO spoke on South African spinner Imran Tahir who has been warming the bench since the beginning of the T20 extravaganza. It has been quite shocking to witness the Purple Cap holder of the 2019 edition of IPL, sitting on the bench. However, Viswanathan is optimistic that Tahir will make a comeback in the team in the second-half of the league.

“He will definitely come into the picture as we go ahead. Right now, with the conditions on offer, the team composition has been planned with two foreigners at the top as pure batsmen and then two pace bowling all-rounders. But, he [Tahir] will come in with the wickets starting to take turn in the second half.” he concluded.