2 Players CSK Can Pick To Replace Ambati Rayudu In IPL 2024 Auction: The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became the second team to qualify for the IPL 2023 playoffs with 17 points in 14 matches. In what is likely to be the last IPL season for MS Dhoni, CSK are now aiming at their 5th IPL title, which will put them side-by-side with Mumbai Indians.
While most of the CSK players have the team games on their own and made significant contributions, one regular featuring player that has been disappointing in the IPL 2023 is Ambati Rayudu. This may or may not be the last season of MS Dhoni, it has increasingly looked like Ambati Rayudu is donning the CSK jersey and perhaps even playing in the IPL for the last time.
Rayudu’s form has been poor in IPL 2023: in 10 innings, Rayudu has scored 122 runs with a best of 27* and a strike rate of 127. Rayudu’s struggles this season have been against both pace and spin. His high salary of INR 6.25 crore, too, would be a factor in CSK likely releasing Rayudu.
Here are 2 players CSK can pick to replace Ambati Rayudu in IPL 2024:
Mohammed Azharuddeen
Hard-hitting Kerala keeper-batsman Mohammed Azharuddeen was with RCB in IPL 2021, but didn’t get to play any game. He was released and wasn’t picked in the next two IPL auctions.
Azharuddeen made a name for himself with a blockbuster century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy off only 37 balls, a record for the second-fastest century in the SMAT.
He has a strike rate of 134 in T20 cricket at an average of 22; Azharuddeen has shown versatility in playing both the top-order hitter’s role and a powerful finisher’s role.
He hasn’t really lit up domestic cricket in recent while, but being a wicket-keeper he brings more value. Since MS Dhoni is soon to move out of the IPL, CSK should be also looking to get uncapped Indian keepers whom they can groom for the role.
Dinesh Bana
Haryana’s Dinesh Bana had his MS Dhoni-esque moment when he smashed 2 consecutive sixes to win India the under-19 World Cup final in 2022 against England U-19. In that tournament, Bana gained a reputation as a hard-hitter: he scored only 63 runs in 5 matches but scored them at an astronomical strike rate of 190.
Since then, however, Bana hasn’t done anything impressive to note: he averaged 14 at a strike rate of 110 in 8 T20 matches. Nonetheless, franchises might want to invest in a potential finisher and keeper who is only 18 years of age. That franchise could be CSK.
