The defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) entered the IPL 2022 mega auctions with a total purse of Rs. 48 crores. The four-time champions had retained four players ahead of the mega-auctions in Bengaluru in the form of Ravindra Jadeja (INR 16 crore), MS Dhoni (INR 12 crore), Moeen Ali (INR 8 crore), and Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 6 crore). After having spent 42 crores (INR), the bidding management of CSK was required to rely on simple arithmetic to acquire the most efficient players and make a balanced squad.
Since each franchise could have 25 players in their squads, CSK had to bid for 21 players, out of which could be filled by acquiring seven overseas players.
Chennai Super Kings on TATA IPL 2022 mega auction Day 1:
Apart from the retained players, CSK rather chose to stick to some of its old players such as Dwayne Bravo, Robin Uthappa, and Ambati Rayudu. Apart from the skipper MS Dhoni, the franchise picked two other wicket-keepers i.e., Robin Uthappa for Rs. 2 crores INR and Ambati Rayudu for Rs. 6.75 crores INR.
One of the best picks by CSK on Day 1 was Deepak Chahar, who was listed with a base price of Rs. 2 crores INR. CSK competed with both Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the bidding race that escalated beyond Rs. 10 crores until CSK’s Sundar Raman out beat Capital’s offer with Rs. 14 crores INR. Here is a glimpse of how CSK spent the money on Day 1 of the TATA IPL 2022 mega auction.
Top Picks for CSK on Day 1
Deepak Chahar (Base Price INR 2 crore)
Chahar became the most expensive Indian pacer to be ever sold in IPL history. CSK acquired him for a whopping 14 crores (INR), as their most expensive acquisition at an IPL auction and got the bowler back. Chahar has so far played 63 matches for the side with 59 wickets under his belt, at an economy of 7.8. In IPL 2021, he played 15 matches and finished with 14 scalps in CSK’s fourth title win.
Ambati Rayudu (Base Price INR 2 crore)
The 36-year-old wicketkeeper-batter returned to his old team after having acquired for an amount of Rs. 6.75 crores INR. Rayudu is one of those Indian players with plenty of experience in the IPL. He had made his IPL debut in 2010, and since then he went on to aggregate 3196 runs in 175 matches at an economy of 29.44.
Chennai Super Kings squad IPL 2022
Retention: Ravindra Jadeja (INR 16 crore), MS Dhoni (INR 12 crore), Moeen Ali (INR 8 crore), Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 6 crore)
Batters & Wicketkeepers: Robin Uthappa (2 Cr INR), Ambati Rayudu (6.75 Cr INR)
Bowlers: Deepak Chahar (14 Cr INR), KM Asif (20 lakhs INR), Tushar Deshpande (20 lakhs INR)
Allrounders: Dwayne Bravo (4.40 Cr INR)
Total players: 10 (Indian- 8 & overseas- 2)
Remaining Purse- ₹20,45,00,000
With the outcome of the auction on Day 1, CSK slightly indicated their core squad would be around the old squad, with the inclusion of two uncapped players Tushar Deshpande and KM Asif for Rs. 20 lakhs INR each. With the remaining purse value of Rs. 20.45 crores, CSK bidders would aim to fit 15 most efficient players to complete their quota of a maximum of 25 players for the squad.