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CSK IPL 2021 Auction Analysis: How did they perform? | A look at Chennai Super Kings’ performance at the IPL 2021 Auction
This article is part of an Auction Analysis series, where we look at each team. Check out the analysis of:
Retained players: MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, KM Asif, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, N Jagadeesan, Karn Sharma, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Sam Curran, Josh Hazlewood, R Sai Kishore
Players bought: K Gowtham (INR 9.25 crore), Moeen Ali (INR 7 crore), Cheteshwar Pujara (INR 50 lakh), K Bhagath Varma (INR 20 lakh), C Hari Nishaanth (INR 20 lakh), M Harisankar Reddy (INR 20 lakh)
Purse remaining: INR 2.55 crore
Best Probable XI: Faf Du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suresh Raina, Moeen Ali, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Sam Curran, K Gowtham, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar
Alternate XI: Moeen Ali, Faf Du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, K Gowtham, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir
The Chennai Super Kings fared well in their hometown as they picked their main targets. The 3-time champions indulged in a bidding war with the Royal Challengers Bangalore for Glenn Maxwell but couldn’t get their hands on the Australian all-rounder.
Instead, they picked Moeen Ali and the Englishman was available at a cheaper price of 7 crores. The all-rounder fits CSK’s requirements as the franchise needed a southpaw as well as an off-spinning bowling all-rounder.
The MS Dhoni-led franchise bought Krishnappa Gowtham for a whopping sum of 9.25 crores and in the process the Karnataka off-spinner became the costliest uncapped player in the history of the IPL auction. The franchise needed a mainstream off-spinner as Harbhajan Singh was released by the franchise. Lack of off-spin options hurt the franchise in the IPL 2020 as they lacked variety in their spin-bowling attack.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s buy might have got the yellow franchise an applause in the auction room but the buy was puzzling given that the Test specialist last played the lucrative tourney in 2014 and scores at under a run-a-ball in the format. It might be interesting to see what CSK plans for the experienced batsman as Ruturaj Gaikwad or N Jagadeeshan can play the anchor role in a better way for the franchise.
K Bhagath Varma, C Hari Nishaanth and M Harisankar Reddy were the 3 uncapped players bagged by the franchise for their base price towards the end of the event.
IPL 2021 Prediction
CSK’s plans were all over the place as the tournament shifted to UAE and majority of their players were better suited to the track in Chepauk. This year, irrespective of the venue, CSK will be expected to fare well as they have a long batting line-up and have the majority of their bases covered. A playoff spot will be a certainty for the franchise.
Written by Sarthak Karkhanis. Follow Sarthak on Twitter today.
This article is part of an Auction Analysis series, where we look at each team. Check out the analysis of: