2018 IPL Auction: 3 positions which CSK need to fill

Chennai Super Kings is among the most successful teams and is arguably the most popular IPL team. The team won its first IPL title in the year 2010 and followed it up in 2011. It is returning from a two-year ban and has retained its three most important players in Dhoni, Raina and Jadeja.

The team management will approach the auction with an aim of retaining its former players as well as picking up new players who add value to their squad.

The history of CSK shows that it likes to fill certain positions with established players which provides it with the best shot at the title and is also the reason why the Chennai-based franchise is the only team to have qualified for the semifinals in all the seasons that it has played.

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#1) An overseas fast bowler

Candidates for the spot: Mitchell McClenaghan, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye

McClenaghan could prove to be the ideal fast bowler for CSK

A foreign fast bowler is a luxury which CSK and Dhoni always like to have. CSK has emerged victorious in IPL whenever it has had the services of a fit and an in-form overseas pace bowler. CSK won its first IPL title when it had a fiery Bollinger bowling his heart out.

It is therefore expected that the management would go for a foreign fast bowler in this year's IPL Auction as well.

Andrew Tye performed brilliantly in the BBL this year and he had also excelled in last year's IPL before withdrawing due to an injury. In six IPL matches he played last year, Tye picked up 12 wickets which included a hat-trick at an economy rate of 6.71.

The only drawback with CSK picking Tye is that the fans would love to get Bravo back in their team and in that case having the Australian and the West Indian in the same XI would mean two bowlers with similar bowling styles and therefore, the team management would prefer an out and out fast bowler in Tye's place.

Mitchell Starc, if available, can be an ideal choice for any team and CSK is no exception. The only problem with Starc is his injury, he has been regularly affected by injuries and that may be a reason why CSK may look for other options

Mitchell McClenaghan is one player who ticks all the boxes for the Chennai side. His previous IPL experience would also come in handy for the Chennai side as he has had a brilliant record with Mumbai Indians where he scalped 54 wickets in 40 matches at an average of just 25.

#2) Fast bowling All-Rounder

Candidates: Dwayne Bravo, Ben Stokes

CSK and Dwayne Bravo is a love story which neither of them would love to break

All-rounders are the most important part of any T20 team and CSK would definitely look to buy one in the upcoming auction. The options in the all-rounders list are comparatively lesser and one would expect to see immense competition for the ones on that list.

Dwayne Bravo and Ben Stokes are two players who may well end up being amongst the highest earners of this year's IPL and CSK would definitely want to go for them.

Bravo is an option which is very difficult for CSK to resist as he has been a huge asset for the team in the previous editions. The Caribbean has played with CSK and is a crowd favourite and his rapport with Dhoni is palpable and his experience of bowling in the Chepauk wicket makes him an asset which CSK would love to have.

Stokes, on the other hand, was one of the best performers of last year's IPL and is sure to trigger a bidding war in the auction. Most probably, the Englishman will attract a higher bid than Bravo, therefore, using RTM for the latter will be a better option.

Best Pick: Dwayne Bravo

#3) Indian opener

Candidates: Ajinkya Rahane, Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Gautam Gambhir

Rahane's game perfectly suits CSK's style of play

KL Rahul is among the hottest properties in the upcoming auction, so it is unlikely that CSK would have enough left in the purse to pursue him. It would prefer cheaper yet equally effective alternatives.

Gautam Gambhir is a choice which one would love to have because of his consistency, but his strike rate is a cause of concern and CSK would prefer to have a batsman who could play both the waiting role as well as the aggressive role. Gambhir's age would be the biggest concern for CSK as the number of years for which he would play is uncertain.

Ajinkya Rahane, possibly, is the best option for CSK and would prove to be an important addition to the team if bought. Rahane has been an extremely consistent player for Rajasthan and has the ability to play the waiting game as well as the aggressive game, making him the ideal candidate for CSK.

Murali Vijay has played for CSK and performed brilliantly in his stint there. Vijay being a Chennai lad also adds value to his profile. Vijay is a player who has the ability to play both Tests and T20s brilliantly and when in form could turn out to be an ideal opener.

Best Pick: Ajinkya Rahane if at a decent price, else Gautam Gambhir