The IPL 2024 auction made waves of excitement as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) secured the services of all-rounder Shardul Thakur for Rs 4 crore. This marked a triumphant reunion between the seasoned all-rounder and the MS Dhoni-led team. The exciting auction happened at the Coco-Cola Arena in Dubai. CSK, a five-time IPL champion, got actively involved in the bidding battles right from the start.
Shardul Thakur Returns To Chennai Super Kings
Shardul Thakur, a two-time IPL champion with CSK in 2018 and 2021, made a comeback to the franchise after a short stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Thakur’s intriguing journey took a turn when he was released by KKR, having been initially traded for a substantial Rs 10.5 crore from Delhi Capitals. Despite a dip in his IPL earnings, Thakur eagerly welcomed the opportunity to play again under the leadership of MS Dhoni.
During the 2023 season, Thakur represented KKR, securing 7 wickets in 11 matches with an economy rate of 10.48 runs per over. Despite these figures, Raina emphasized Thakur’s potential, applauding his dual skills with both bat and ball. Thakur’s overall IPL statistics speak well about his cricketing prowess, amassing 286 runs and claiming 89 wickets in 86 appearances.
Meanwhile, fans of Chennai Super Kings went berserk following Shardul Thakur’s return to the franchise. Check out the reactions of fans:
WATCH: Thakur Wears CSK’s Jersey Over KKR’s Kit
Shardul Thakur is back home…!!! 💛 pic.twitter.com/SY6o8AYNNJ
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 19, 2023
The CSK squad looks quite strong so far. Apart from Shardul Thakur, Chennai Super Kings made some significant acquisitions at hefty prices, securing big names like Daryl Mitchell for a whopping Rs 14 crore, and the promising new talent Sameer Rizvi for Rs 8.4 crore. However, the standout steal of the season was the World Cup sensation Rachin Ravindra, a spin-all-rounder, who joined CSK for just Rs 1.8 crore. With two Indian players and two foreign players, CSK has efficiently filled 23 of the available slots in their squad.
