IPL 2022: 5 players Chennai Super Kings might target in mega auction

With the IPL 2022 mega auction only a couple of days away, all the eight existing teams have named their mandatory player retentions and would be looking to start afresh ahead of the 15th edition of the marquee tournament. As all teams retained some of their players, they also made a big decision of releasing the rest of them who had either served their respective franchises for a particular year or a few seasons. The defending champions Chennai Super Kings are one of them.

CSK had decided to retain the likes of skipper MS Dhoni, last edition’s Orange Cap winner Ruturaj Gaikwad, star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and his English counterpart Moeen Ali. As they look forward to winning a record-equalling fifth IPL title, the Yellow Army would be eager to make some new additions to their squad during the IPL 2022 auction in Bengaluru.

Here’s a look 5 players CSK might target in IPL 2022 mega auction:

1. Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal‘s IPL career got off to a promising start when he was brought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2020 season. He announced his arrival right away by scoring a 42-ball 56 in his debut game. Padikkal finished the season with 473 runs in 15 matches. The youngster was also impressive for RCB in the 2021 season having amassed 411 runs from 14 games.

Despite his consistent performances in the last couple of years, the southpaw was not retained by the three-time finalists as they retained the likes of batting megastar Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj and Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, respectively.

Should the emerging cricketer be roped in by CSK, he could find a great opening partner in Ruturaj Gaikwad and the duo would be expected to score runs at a brisk rate. Therefore, the Kerala-born batter could well be on his way to one of the most successful IPL teams this weekend.

2. Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami has been one of the successful bowlers in IPL history, having registered 79 scalps from 77 matches ever since he had the first burst on to the scene at the marquee tournament in the 2011 edition. He has been one of the consistent performers for the Punjab franchise since they had roped him in 2019.

Despite finishing as the Punjab Kings’ leading wicket-taker and the fifth-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2021 with 19 scalps from 14 outings, the 2014 finalists released him as they went on to retain just two players in explosive opener Mayank Agarwal and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.

With no pacers in their arsenal, the four-time winners would certainly be targeting to have one and the senior pacer would be a better choice to spearhead their fast bowling lineup.

3. Trent Boult

Trent Boult was roped in by the former champions Mumbai Indian for the 2020 edition and he was really impressive in that season as MI went on to win their record fifth IPL title. Boult finished that season with 25 scalps to his name from 15 appearances. However, he seemed to have lost his rhythm in IPL 2021 managing just 13 wickets from 14 games.

Boult was one of the players to be released by the four-time winners as they retained skipper Rohit Sharma, batting sensation Suryakumar Yadav, Caribbean all-rounder Kieron Pollard and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

With no fast bowling options, CSK would definitely rope in the seasoned New Zealander should they outbid their rivals in the two-day event and he could also make the new ball talk along with Mohammed Shami if both of them feature together for the franchise.

4. Jason Holder

Jason Holder would be in the scheme of things of the leading teams in the upcoming IPL 2022 mega auction. He recently took four wickets off consecutive deliveries in the series-deciding fifth T20I against England at home. Apart from his accurate bowling, the tall cricketer is also known for his impactful batting in the middle-order.

Holder was released by the 2016 winners Sunrisers Hyderabad months before the mega auction as they decided to retain first-choice player as well as New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and the uncapped Jammu and Kashmir duo of speedster Umran Malik and middle-order batter Abdul Samad respectively.

The Chennai Super Kings would not miss out on a wonderful opportunity if they get one to have Holder on board with all-ready two all-rounders in the side. His inclusion could further strengthen the team’s middle-order as well.

5. David Warner

David Warner is one of the most consistent run-getters in the history of IPL and had also led the Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first and only title in 2016. The Australian opener has won the Orange Cap award a record three times in the 2015, 2017 and 2019 editions respectively.

Warner seemed to have lost his Midas touch with the bat in the 2021 season and was also sacked as captain by the SRH management. He was also benched for the rest of the second leg after failing in the first game in the UAE. The dynamic opener was not a part of the Orange Army’s retained players.

The five-time title-winners CSK would definitely be looking forward to having Warner on board if they successfully outbid everyone at the auction table in a few days’ time.