Crazy social media pundits predicting that MS Dhoni will sit out of the remaining games for CSK and give captaincy to Faf/Rayudu/Jadeja. Not the right call to make at all IMO. MSD should play this season out and gotta see how the situation pans out w.r.t. the auctions and if any kind of an auction happens before IPL 2021. I really liked what Badrinath tweeted after the CSK vs RR game
MSD should be a mentor/player for 2021 and get that transition fast tracked. Already reports are flush about CSK management not happy with the squad and looking to make some really tough calls ahead of 2021. All depends on if an auction happens. If it happens, I think the likes of Jadhav, Chawla, Karn, Watson, Ngidi, Harbhajan, Santner would all be on the chopping block. I know age is a factor that has assumed massive significance after this season for CSK, but I think Tahir can be retained (if no mega auction happens before 2021). More so if the season next year happens in India. But I have a feeling even Tahir might be in the chopping block.
There is no chance of Dhoni sitting out the rest of the games like Gambhir did in 2018 IMO. Dhoni's a bit too big a name to do it and not have to impact viewership and interest negatively for one. It would also mean that Jagadeesan donning the gloves, imagine the heap of criticism and scrutiny he will face for every single delivery. Finally unlike Delhi we don't really have a proper captaincy option to pass the role on to now, Faf is the best alternative and there are doubts over his long term participation given he might play for Kent permanently from next season. Rayudu and Jadeja are both struggling with inconsistency issues of their own, can we really ask them to take on an additional burden? I feel that Dhoni may have given up the captaincy alone and still played had Raina been playing as part of a 'succession plan' but the latter's absence makes the thought irrelevant now.
The Warne role for Dhoni next season may be something borne out of necessity rather than what could be best for the team in the long term. Warne did decline later on but in 2008 he picked up 18 wickets which was just five less than the purple cap holder. Can Dhoni be one of the best players in the team next season in that mould? Especially when his captaincy and decision making has not been the best this season? I think it could work as long as Dhoni plays some domestic cricket for Jharkhand to keep himself match fit and if we have a plethora of all-rounders to send in before him (already have Jadeja and Curran for it as of now).
Harbhajan's contract has already been terminated if I'm correct along with Raina's so they will be in the auction next year. Ngidi shouldn't be released IMO given how cheap his wages are, we will never get a player of his calibre and reputation at base price again. However it seems like he has fallen out of favour. Agree with the rest of releases but I have my doubts over Chawla and Santner being released. I feel they'll keep Chawla around as one of the reasons for picking him was that he knew the Chepauk pitch and conditions well and they might want to test that next season. It is not like we can splurge money on anyone new and we would have close to 20 crores freed up from the release of Jadhav, Raina and Harbhajan. I feel that they may also release Bravo this season, his performances have not been any better compared to last season's but the sentimental value may save him. As for targets, I feel like these players may be released by other franchises given either the lack of game-time or their lack of value
- Cottrell - 8.5C KXIP
- Nair - 5.6C KXIP
- Gowtham - 6.2C KXIP
- Maxwell - 10.75C KXIP (a big if)
- Cummins - 15.5C KKR
- Jaishwal - 2.4C RR (again, a big if but he earns far too much and RR are not lacking openers, made up or real)
- Unadkat - 3C RR
- Allen - 50L SRH (I'm expecting SRH to retain Holder next season and let go of Allen to balance their overseas quota)
- Roy - 1.5C DC
- Woakes 1.5C DC
- Steyn - 2C RCB
As for players who could appear as free agents in the auction, the likes of Shakib, Malan, Munro, Wood (much better pacer now since his run-up change), de Grandhomme, Guptill, Ingram, Lewis and Klaasen are some of the names that come to the mind. There is a reason why some of these have not been picked but I feel someone like Malan could be very handy for us. I also think that if Maxi is released, we should go all in for him. The next World Cup is in India which means he will be more focused and we generally have our overseas batsmen bat in the top three which is where Maxwell works best. Also feel that some proper management and clear instructions could help him play in the way he does for Australia and on the low scoring ground that will be Chepauk next season, his ability to play at a naturally quick rate could be of huge benefit. Of course this depends on him being released which is very unlikely. Gowtham is a good target too if he is released, could help us with the lack of a off-spinner in the squad at the moment. The way I see it, this would be my side next season
Gaikwad (hoping a season of domestic cricket sorts his confidence issues out if the rest of the IPL doesn't)
Overseas (Malan would be the dream but Munro or Lewis might be better in terms of providing an aggressive left-handed hitter)
Faf
Rayudu (was very poor last season in Chepauk despite being a renowned player of spin but any sort of improvement would be good)
Jadeja (it is time, he has shown that he can bat if needed and is given time, let him bat at five)
Curran (I would use him as a floater, bring him in whenever we need quick runs onboard and use him primarily as the bowler)
Dhoni (the biggest wildcard, his position depends on how confident he is and how his form works out)
Chahar
Thakur
Chawla (no other choice, hope the Chepauk experience comes in good)/ Sai Kishore (leaves us without a wrist spinner though)
Hazlewood (I rate him over Cummins in white ball cricket, it is madness that we picked him up at base price! He could shutdown one end in the powerplay on his own)
If we pick up Raina again (quite likely but I imagine KXIP and SRH would love to have a proven domestic batsman in their fragile middle order leading to a bidding war that CSK would not want) or if it is revealed that he was never sold, Faf moves to open while he comes in at three with Gaikwad dropping out unfortunately. Have Jagadeesan rotate with Rayudu and Dhoni whenever they need a rest or are out of form.
