Jason Holder
The West Indies all-rounder is one of the game’s most underappreciated players, but CSK may be interested in bringing in a player of Holders calibre at the IPL Auction. The tall fast-bowling all-rounder can bowl four tight overs and play good knocks in the lower middle-order for the team. Holder has shown to be a useful player and someone who will not let the team down in the little opportunities he’s had in the last two seasons of the IPL. Holder possesses a fantastic cricketing brain, which would make him a perfect choice for CSK while remaining under budget.
Bravo
The great all-rounder has also been an important element of the CSK setup over the previous decade, establishing himself as the team’s face. It’s difficult to imagine CSK without Bravo because the West Indies player has made multiple match-winning contributions for the team. Captain MS Dhoni has a friendly relationship with Bravo, and the latter understands exactly what is expected of him in the Yellow Brigade. While his waning effectiveness on the field does not make him a long-term prospect, Bravo may still serve the team for another season or two and so is not a bad bet.
Trent Boult
CSK will be looking to build a dangerous pace attack in the upcoming auction, and who better than New Zealand speed spearhead Trent Boult? Boult has played great for the teams he has been a part of during the tournament. The potential of the left-handed strike pacer to pick up wickets in the powerplay, bowl tight lines, and bowl in excess of 140-plus would surely force head coach Stephen Fleming to pursue him. CSK’s experience in previous auctions has proven that they are willing to buy a world-class left-arm fast, and Boult matches that criteria. When Boults’ name is auctioned off, the franchise will face strong competition from the other teams.
Faf du Plessis
In the recent decade, the senior South African cricketer has been an important player of the Chennai Super Kings. The powerful right-handed batsman has been a major factor for CSK’s success. Since their comeback to the IPL in 2018, CSK has won the championship twice and finished as runners-up in 2019. Faf du Plessis was the second-highest run-scorer in the IPL 2021 season, behind only his CSK teammate Ruturaj Gaikwad. Together, the pair helped CSK get off to a good start in the tournament, prompting the CSK thought tank to re-sign the Protea cricketer.
Du Plessis has retired from international cricket and now plays in domestic T20 leagues around the world, which means he will be with the team throughout the tournament, preventing any injuries. Du Plessis has also been a leader of CSK’s fielding setup, and that he and Ravindra Jadeja make their area impregnable.
David Warner
The senior Australian batsman is one of the most consistent overseas batters in the league’s history, and David Warner would almost surely find a lot of takers in the 2019 IPL auction. CSK, like others, may be interested in the explosive left-handed opening batter. Warner’s ability to play both spin and pace makes him a perfect option for CSK. If the ball is coming neatly onto the bat, he can provide the side with a fast start, but if the pitch is slow, the senior Aussie is equally adept at taking his time to settle and burst later. He can function as an accumulator as well as a sheath anchor. Warner is also an ideal option because CSK skipper MS Dhoni prefers to rely on experienced players.