Chennai Super Kings overcame the odds to go on and lift the title in IPL 2021. However, they will have to undergo a transition before the next season. MS Dhoni might retire soon, and this will take a hit on CSK’s brand and fan base. The management might try to reduce the damage by hiring a few home-grown players for future campaigns. There has been a dearth of Tamil Nadu-born cricketers in the CSK XI for the last few seasons. In this article, we take a look at the list of three Tamil Nadu players CSK must target for IPL 2022.
1) Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar is one of the Tamil Nadu players CSK must target for IPL 2022. There are multiple reasons why CSK must target Washi. The all-rounder is a young cricketer and will be an investment for the future. A local boy, Washi has the capability to lead the franchise after a few seasons.
Most importantly, skill-wise, Washi would suit perfectly the pitch at Chepauk. A thinking cricketer, Sundar’s spin bowling will be of great use. He also knows the pitch very well and sooner or later, he would also improve his T20 batting. These factors make him an ideal signing for CSK.
2) R Ashwin
R Ashwin is the most popular Tamil Nadu-based cricketer to have played for Chennai Super Kings. Although he has not played for the franchise since 2015, he still is the team’s second-highest wicket-taker.
Just like Washi, Ashwin would also tick all the boxes on the Chennai pitch. However, unlike Washi, Ashwin is someone who can bring all his tricks to the table right from IPL 2022. Of course, he is a well-known man and would add to the enormous follower-base of the franchise. If Dhoni retires, he could also be a decent captaincy choice.
3) Shahrukh Khan
In an era where most of India’s promising batsmen have been from the top-order, Shahrukh Khan is someone who is doing a good job in the difficult role of a middle-order batsman in T20 cricket. While he has consistently done well for Tamil Nadu, the player also did well for Punjab Kings in IPL 2021.
Shahrukh has played a lot of cricket in Chennai in recent years. He would understand the working of the pitch and moreover, his attributes would also suit a team like CSK. He can also bowl off-break, which will attract a team like CSK, which has always had multi-utility cricketers in their line-up.
