Chennai Super Kings staged an extraordinary comeback after a shallow season that saw them lifting their fourth IPL title under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. They drew a lot of flak in the preceding edition as they became the first team to crash out of the tournament.
Things changed magically for the Kings as they found perfect chemistry in the line-up with the introduction of Suresh Raina, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali, a bond that was missing in the last edition of the tournament.
They thumped Kolkata Knight Riders emphatically in the finale to complete their remarkable turnaround, thanks to an extraordinary c of the batting and a late comeback by the bowlers to dismantle the KKR batting line-up by bits and pieces.
However, with the mega-auction lurking around in the corner, speculations have already started building about the various permutations and combinations that Chennai may incorporate into the side for the upcoming audition. In this story, we will be taking a look at three probable retentions that Chennai will be opting for.
#1 Ravindra Jadeja
It is needless to say that Chennai will not let go of the most electrifying all-rounder in the world at the moment. He already showcased his worth in the final as he pulled off two scintillating catches. It isn’t just his fielding but his crucial breaks with the ball in his hand and those blitzkrieg knock towards the end have always been a boon to Chennai. His presence in the field is a catalyst for any team and the tug of war that will spark in the auction if Jadeja is available for grabs will be insane. He has been a part of 200 matches that saw him scoring 2386 runs at an average of 27.11 and a blistering strike rate of 128.07. He has also claimed 127 wickets in the tournament with 5 for 16 being his personal best.
#2 Ruturaj Gaikwad
The man who bagged the Orange Cap in 2021, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been a find of the season. He played with such eloquence that it was a delightful treat for the eyes and after an intense contest with Faf du Plessis, he managed to walk away with the Orange Cap. In the recently concluded season of IPL, Gaikwad stitched together 635 runs at an astonishing average of 46.61 at a brilliant strike rate of 136.26. After being given limited opportunities in the preceding season, Gaikwad proved himself to be the find of the season and with the lack of good Indian openers in the league, Chennai will be hellbent to keep this young asset.
#3 Faf du Plessis
One of the most devastating South African openers of all time in the shortest format of the game, Francois “Faf” du Plessis was simply brilliant, to say the least. He missed out on the Orange Cap by a whisker as he fell short of the coveted milestone by just 2 runs. In the 2021 edition, he managed to rack up 633 runs at an astonishing average of 45.21. In the tournament’s glittering antiquity, he has managed to score 2935 runs so far at a fine average of 34.94. He is also a match-winner and can play in the big games. Du Plessis will definitely be another scorching retention for Chennai Super Kings if they do not have any other illustrious targets in mind.
