IPL 2022: Former India off-spinner Nikhil Chopra believes that Ravindra Jadeja is considered to lead the Chennai Super Kings after MS Dhoni retires and that is the reason why, he believes, that CSK retained the all-rounder for a higher price than even Dhoni.
Ravindra Jadeja was the first-choice retention by CSK for 16 crore, four crores more than what they retained captain MS Dhoni for. England all-rounder Moeen Ali was retained for 8 crore and last season’s Orange Cap winner, Ruturaj Gaikwad, for 6 crore.
It raised some eyebrows when Jadeja was retained for a higher amount than Dhoni. But shedding light on the same, Nikhil Chopra reckons that Jadeja could perhaps have been earmarked by the franchise to lead the side after Dhoni, who is likely to retire this year.
Speaking on the YouTube podcast titled ‘Khelneeti’, Nikhil Chopra said: “Jadeja can definitely be an option as CSK’s next skipper. The way he is performing and the way his form has been across formats and the role that he has been given in T20s to bowl four overs and bat down the order, his career has progressed really well. That is perhaps the reason why they paid a huge sum for him.”
Ravindra Jadeja has become arguably the best all-format all-rounder in the world currently. Jadeja, who recently became the number one ICC Test all-rounder, is among the first names on India’s teamsheet and has been a match-winner with his brilliant all-round display. In the past few years, he has taken his batting to a higher level, tributed by his promotion in the batting order by both India and CSK.
The Chennai Super Kings will kick start their title defense in IPL 2022 in the season opener against the side they defeated in the final last year, Kolkata Knight Riders, on March 26 at the Wankhede Stadium.
