Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be entering IPL 2024 as the defending champions and former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan reckons they are a formidable team this season with the acquisitions they made in the IPL auctions.
Irfan Pathan suggests that CSK have two playing combinations ready for the upcoming season and they have all the chances to defend their title in this season. They are the joint-most successful franchise in the IPL with five titles to their name.
Chennai Super Kings have reached the playoffs of the prestigious league 12 out of 14 times and have played the finals 10 times out of 14. CSK made the third-most expensive purchase in the auction as they bought New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell for 14 crores.
The Chennai-based franchise has a great depth in their squad for this season and they would be led by the great MS Dhoni who is expected to feature in his last season for them.
Irfan Pathan was asked during a discussion on Star Sports whether the Chennai-based franchise has strengthened its squad even more with their acquisitions at the auction.
He responded, “In terms of the combination they have, their playing XI is sorted. Apart from the playing XI, they have five or six guys who can actually come and play as well. So their squad is full and their replacements are full.”
“If Matheesha Pathirana doesn’t start well, they have Mustafizur Rahman. They might even start with Mustafizur. They might have all Indian bowlers and most of the overseas batters as well. So they have not one but two combinations ready well before the IPL season has started,” the former India all-rounder added. Chennai Super Kings purchased Mustafizur Rahman for 2 crores in the auction and Mukesh Chaudhary is expected to return after missing the last season due to injury.
Irfan Pathan Noted That CSK Could Not Find A Replacement For Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu announced his retirement from the IPL last season and Chennai Super Kings could not find his replacement in the auctions. Irfan Pathan reckons there are not many Indian batters who can replace someone like Ambati Rayudu in the squad.
The former all-rounder noted that it was doubtful whether CSK would be able to find a proper replacement for the likes of Ambati Rayudu.
However, Irfan Pathan also reckons that the acquisitions of Daryl Mitchell as an overseas batter and Shardul Thakur as an Indian bowling all-rounder make up for Ambati Rayudu in the squad.
Shardul Thakur was a relatively bargain acquisition of CSK as he was bought for just 4 crores in the auction given he was purchased for 10.75 crores by the Delhi Capitals and was traded to KKR at the same price.
“We were talking about what the Chennai Super Kings were going to do, especially with Ambati Rayudu, because if a player like Ambati Rayudu goes away, you don’t have many Indian batters who can actually replace him. So what you needed to do was to get Daryl Mitchell, an overseas guy, and get one Indian fast bowler as well. They exactly did the same thing. They got Daryl Mitchell and they got Shardul Thakur also,” Pathan stated.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is expected to begin during the third week of March and will last till the end of May. Chennai Super Kings will be hoping to win another title to bid farewell to their legend and most successful captain MS Dhoni who made them one of the most successful franchises of the league. CSK ties with MI as both have five IPL titles to their name.
