IPL 2019: 5 players CSK should sign in the auction

Chennai Super Kings is the most consistent and successful team in the history of the Indian Premier League. With three IPL titles so far, MS Dhoni & Co. have dominated the league, ever since its inception in 2008.

Though they have a good squad at their disposal right now, it certainly needs some reinforcements. Their pace department, in particular, lacks depth and requires strengthening. Dwayne Bravo leaked a lot of runs in the death overs last season and they definitely need a bowler who can contain batsmen between overs 16 and 20.

CSK is expected to retain a majority of their squad that tasted success last season. However, a few players who failed to impress last season could be released. With quite a few exciting names up for grabs in the IPL 2019 auction, CSK will look to add quality depth to their squad.

On that note, let's take a look at the five players Chennai Super Kings should sign in the 2019 auction.

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#5 Shimron Hetmyer

Guyana Amazon Warriors v Trinbago Knight Riders - 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Tournament Play-Off 1

The young Carribean international Shimron Odilon Hetmyer has captured the attention of the cricketing world with his explosive batting against India in the first two games of the ongoing ODI series. He has scored 200 runs in the first two games of the series at a destructive strike rate of 140 and was exceptional in the middle-order.

Playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors, he was phenomenal in the recently concluded 2018 Carribean Premier League. Shimron Hetmyer scored 440 runs in the tournament at an excellent average of 40. He scored a hundred and two fifties in the tournament at an explosive strike rate of almost 150. He is expected to cause a bidding war and a player to watch out for in the 2019 IPL auction.

#4 Athisayaraj Davidson

Athisayaraj Davidson, an Indian version of Lasith Malinga

One of the major areas of concern for CSK last tournament was their lack of depth in the pace bowling department, especially Indian seamers. Though Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar bowled well, they never really had any sort of quality alternate options.

Despite their success in the IPL 2018 with a relatively inexperienced seam attack, they should look to strengthen it for the upcoming IPL campaign. They need a bowler who can bring variety to the attack and provide an X-factor.

One such name is Athisayaraj Davidson. An unknown quantity to many outside Tamil Nadu, Athisayaraj was exceptional for Tamil Nadu in the 2017/2018 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Playing for TUTI Patriots in the 2018 Tamil Nadu Premier League, he finished as the second highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

Nicknamed Tamil Nadu's Malinga, Athisayaraj impressed everyone with his slingy bowling action, similar to that of Sri Lankan seamer Lasith Malinga.

#3 Varun Aaron

Northamptonshire v Leicestershire - Royal London One-Day Cup

It’s been nearly three years since Varun Aaron last featured for India. Having made his debut in 2011, Varun Aaron has only played only nine Tests and nine One Day Internationals for India so far. Repeated injuries, seven stress fractures, have hindered his progress and he spent most of his time on the sidelines.

Speaking to Cricinfo, Aaron told, "The madness to bowl fast is still there even after seven stress fractures. If I wanted to cut down on pace or go by the safer route, I'd have done it by now. Fast bowling in India isn't easy because of the wickets and conditions too, but it's fun at the end of the day when you see the ball thudding into the keeper's gloves."

However, the Jharkhand pacer once again made a comeback into the game. He was exceptional in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018/19. Aaron has picked up 18 wickets in the tournament from just eight games and bowled with a lot of pace. He finished as one of the top five wicket-takers in the series and looked in a really good shape.

#2 Patrick Brown

Worcestershire Rapids vs Lancashire Lightnings - Vitality Blast Semi-Final

A surprise inclusion on the list but an exciting one. Cricket fans across England will most certainly remember his name because of his heroics in the Vitality Twenty20 Blast finals day. Playing for Worcestershire, Pat Brown made a name for himself with quite a few spells throughout the tournament. 4-36 from eight overs on the Twenty20 finals day was some achievement for Pat Brown.

Patrick Brown finished the tournament as the highest wicket-taker with 31 wickets from 17 games at an economy rate of less than eight runs an over. He played a stellar role in their title win and was brilliant in the death overs. He has two brilliant variations: the off-cutter and the knuckleball.

The 20-year-old's economy rate in the last five overs was less than 7.5 runs an over in the 2018 Blast. He is making the right noises at the moment and could soon wear the England colors. He has all the right ingredients of a T20 medium pacer and could be a great addition to the CSK side.

#1 Eoin Morgan

Sri Lanka v England - 3rd One Day International

This man needs no introduction. England limited-overs captain is one of the most explosive batsmen in the world at the moment. The 32-year-old is a brilliant stroke maker with a wide array of shots.

Though he hasn't been at his best in the Indian Premier League so far, he has always been a consistent performer for England in One Day Internationals and Twenty20s. He is England's all-time highest run-getter in ODIs and in great form at the moment.

Though many have criticized his batting abilities against spin on sub-continent wickets, he has proved them wrong in the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka. Eoin Morgan finished the tournament as the highest run-getter and was dismissed just once in his four innings. He scored 195 runs in the tournament at an average of 195 and a strike rate of 105.40.