Sam Billings thanks Chennai Super Kings after being released ahead of IPL 2020 auction

Many IPL teams released and traded a good number of players right till the closure of the trading window on November 15. While there were franchises like Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore which released more than 10 players each, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) released just five players before the IPL 2020 auction.

The three-time Indian Premier League champions Chennai Super Kings let go of David Willey, Chaitanya Bishnoi, Mohit Sharma, Dhruv Shorey, and Sam Billings. This has enabled CSK to have a purse of Rs 14.6 crore in the upcoming auction. The MS Dhoni-led team that was dubbed ‘Daddies Army’ had put their faith in experience over youth for one more season it seems.

Sam Billings thanks CSK for two wonderful years

England’s T20I vice-captain Sam Billings was picked by CSK in IPL 2018 auction and got to play eleven games for the franchise in two seasons. He made 108 runs with a match-winning 56* against Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram stadium in CSK’s victorious 2018 campaign. Meanwhile, Billings, who was one of the two England players to be released, took to Instagram and thanked the franchise.

In a heartfelt farewell message, Billings wrote, “I want to thank everyone involved @chennaiipl for 2 absolutely incredible years; winning the @iplt20 & then runners up. I learnt so much and loved every minute. This franchise has a very special place in my heart, and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity they gave me. That debut night at the Chepauk will always be one of my favorite memories on a cricket field. Thankyou @cskfansofficial for all the #Yellove 💛 #ThambiSambi”

Here is Sam Billings’ post for Chennai Super Kings

View this post on Instagram

I want to thank everyone involved @chennaiipl for 2 absolutely incredible years; winning the @iplt20 & then runners up. I learnt so much and loved every minute. This franchise has a very special place in my heart, and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity they gave me. That debut night at the Chepauk will always be one of my favourite memories on a cricket field. Thankyou @cskfansofficial for all the #Yellove 💛 #ThambiSambi

A post shared by Sam Billings (@sambillings) on Nov 15, 2019 at 3:24am PST

Meanwhile, CSK, who have reached the finals in both the seasons since their comeback into the fold, have retained their core players in skipper MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Murali Vijay, Kedar Jadhav, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Dwayne Bravo and Shane Watson amongst others.

Though majority of their players are on the wrong side of 30 and team management had special focus on managing the niggles and injuries of players throughout the 2019 season, Dhoni has been lauded for his skills of using semi-fit players brilliantly and taking the team to finals where they were beaten by Mumbai Indians by just one run.