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, Chennai Super Kings are now aiming at their 5th IPL title, which will put them side-by-side with Mumbai Indians despite having played two seasons fewer tha MI.
Some fans would even consider that Chennai Super Kings have played beyond expectations this season given their bowling attack and a few aging senior batters in the side. However, MS Dhoni marshaled his troops once again superbly and Chennai Super Kings entered the playoffs for the 12th time.
Despite this success in IPL 2023, there are a couple of players whom CSK should offload ahead of the IPL 2024 auction:
Ambati Rayudu
While this may or may not be the last season of MS Dhoni, but is has increasingly looked like Ambati Rayudu is donning the Chennai Super Kings 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 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 Chennai Based Franchise likely releasing Rayudu.
Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes will be leaving Chennai Super Kings after the league phase and won’t be available for the playoffs to prepare for the home Test summer – CSK, though, have done well without him after he was sidelined due to a knee injury after a couple of outings.
Stokes is England’s Test captain and that is his first priority. Not just this season, but England’s Test stars have often missed matches in the IPL – some at the start but often at the backend of the tournament as the England home summer kick-starts immediately after the IPL ends.
Plus, given CSK’s home ground is Chennai, Stokes, who struggles against spin and is a pace bowler, isn’t really the biggest of the assets.
Despite knowing that Stokes, the England Test skipper, is unlikely to be available for the playoffs, Chennai Super Kings splurged INR 16.25 crore on Stokes.
Stokes is a legend in the two longer formats – Tests and ODIs – but in T20 cricket, he’s played it few and far between. Releasing Stokes would free up such a big amount in Chennai Super Kings purse which could be used to buy one or two big T20 stars who don’t come with the caveat of unavailability.
