CSK to retain MS Dhoni; no place for Suresh Raina: Reports

What's the story?

In a week's time, the IPL Governing Council will announce the retention policy going into the 2018 auction. It is expected that teams will be allowed to retain three players (two Indians and one overseas) ahead of the auction.

While the teams that took part in the 2017 edition get to retain the players who played for them earlier this year, returning Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals are likely to pick players from Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant.

According to reports in a Tamil daily, Dinathanthi, the Chennai Super Kings team management has already decided on whom to pick when the retention policy comes into place. The report says that the Chennai franchise will retain their skipper MS Dhoni, R Ashwin and Faf du Plessis.

However, CSK's twitter handle has tried to quash all such rumours by putting out a Tweet.

Lots of rumours online about not retaining #ChinnaThala. Don't Believe! We want to bring the pride back together. A roaring #SummerIsComing #WhistlePodu ??

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) November 14, 2017

In case you didn't know...

Both Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended from taking part in the IPL for two years because of their team owners' involvement in betting during the 2013 edition. After serving the suspension, both the franchises are set to return to the field in the 2018 edition in place of Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions.

Details

Both the teams can pick players from the pool that consists of players who played for Gujarat and Pune in the 2017 edition. It is almost certain that MS Dhoni, whose second home is Chennai, will be retained by the franchise and will lead the team.

The overseas player who is set to be picked is Faf du Plessis as he is someone who can bolster the batting order. It is surprising that the Men in Yellow are going for the Protea skipper in spite of picking someone like Dwayne Bravo, who is currently the best T20 bowler.

Without a doubt, Raina has a huge fan base in Chennai as he was the team's prolific run-scorer in the first eight editions. But, unfortunately for his fans in the city, local boy R Ashwin could be picked instead of Raina.

What's next?

The eleventh edition of the IPL is set to witness a fresh set of auction taking place and in all likelihood, it will have over 500 players going under the hammer. The IPL governing council will announce the retention policy on November 21.

Author's Take

Chennai's decision to retain Dhoni, du Plessis and Ashwin are mere reports and there are chances that the team management might not go with this set of names.

Also, the teams are not sure about the retention policy yet. Retaining the players depends on the guidelines that will be set by the IPL GC on November 21. Once the guidelines are out, it will be easier for the team management to chalk out their plans and decide on their retentions.