IPL 2019: 5 players who could be released by CSK

Chennai Super Kings is arguably the most successful team in the IPL. They are also one of the most followed teams in the country and have a strong fan-base. So, when they were banned for two years in 2015, the IPL lost its zeal. CSK has a special place in the IPL and their return was the most awaited one. And they came back and how.

Not many gave them a chance before the tournament but they proved everyone wrong by dishing out some strong performances throughout the tournament and eventually won their third IPL title. The experience of the side, which was ironically considered to be their weakness before the tournament, proved crucial in crunch situations.

However, team CSK will know that they can't sit back on past glory and will have to plan out a new strategy for the next season. Even though they emerged victorious last season, there were some weak links in their squad. The team management does have the option of letting go players who did not perform that well last year, giving themselves the opportunity of including some fresh faces in the squad. Here is the list of players who can be released by Chennai Superkings before the auctions.

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#5 Asif KM

Asif played only two matches for CSK last year

Asif KM was bought by Chennai Super Kings at the 2018 IPL auction at a price of 40 lakhs, which was double his base price. The reason behind buying Asif was his ability to bowl quick. The speedster from Kerala regularly clocked above 140 kph in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2017-18 and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2018. CSK was hoping that Asif will rattle the opposition batting line-up with his genuine and raw pace.

After sitting out for a major part of the tournament, he finally got his chance against Delhi Daredevils. Asif proved to be extremely expensive as he gave away 43 runs in just three overs. He played one more match after that and was dropped from the side. Asif has not done anything exceptional after the IPL and is set to lose his place in CSK.

#4 Mark Wood

Mark Wood left the tournament mid-way last season

There were high expectations from Mark Wood when he was bought by CSK at the auction for a hefty amount of 1.5 Cr. Wood was a regular member of the England limited-overs squad then and was a highly rated new ball bowler.

Wood was given the opportunity to play by CSK in their opening match of the season. The Englishman looked a little rusty and gave away 49 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Wood was dropped in the next match and did not find a place in the playing XI for the next nine matches.

Because of the lack of playing opportunities, Wood decided to head back to England and play for Durham in a bid to find a place in England's Test side. The pacer hasn't been able to cement a place in his national side and is expected to be axed by CSK before the auction.

#3 Karn Sharma

Karn Sharma with Dhoni and Raina

Karn Sharma had a fruitful IPL 2017 with the Mumbai Indians. The right arm spinner took 13 wickets in nine matches for Mumbai Indians while giving away runs at an impressive economy of 6.97. On the virtue of this performance, Sharma was snapped by CSK at a whopping price of 5 crores.

But unfortunately, he couldn't replicate his performance for CSK. With the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh and Imran Tahir already in the squad, the 31-year-old initially struggled to find a place in the playing XI itself. And when he did, he failed to convert it. In the six matches Sharma played for CSK last season, he managed to pick up only four wickets. Moreover, he bowled at a high economy rate of 9.36.

The all-rounder, who used to represent Railways in domestic cricket until last year, changed home and played for Andhra Pradesh this year. Even though he ended the 2018 Vijay Hazare Trophy as Andhra's highest wicket-taker with 12 scalps in 8 matches, it might not be enough for him to retain his place in CSK.

#2 Murali Vijay

Vijay played a solitary game for CSK in IPL 2018

IPL 2019 might bring curtains to Murali Vijay's IPL career. Interestingly, Vijay almost went unsold at the auction last year too. No team was interested in the India opener on the first day of the auction in 2018. He was called back at the auction the next day only to be bought by his old team, Chennai Super Kings, at his base price of 2 crores.

Vijay didn't have the best of starts as he was struck in the ribs before the season opener against Mumbai Indians and missed the initial stage of the tournament. However, he did come back but looked completely out of sorts scoring only 12 runs and was dropped from the playing XI. Vijay warmed the bench for the rest of the season.

He did not have a particularly good Vijay Hazare Trophy for his state side, Tamil Nadu, either and CSK might opt to use the 2 crores spent on Vijay for buying someone else.

#1 Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan hasn't played much cricket after IPL 2018

Harbhajan Singh is one of the all-time greats of IPL. The ace India spinner has had an illustrious IPL career so far. Harbhajan is fifth in the list of highest wicket-takers in IPL history with 134 wickets. After having a spectacular career with Mumbai Indians, Harbhajan shifted base to Chennai Super Kings and reunited with his former India captain MS Dhoni.

However, his performance was disappointing, to say the least. Seven wickets from 13 matches is not the kind of returns you associate with a player of Harbhajan's stature and calibre. Clearly, Harbhajan is past his prime and CSK might consider releasing him before the auctions.

Also, Harbhajan himself hasn't been playing any kind of cricket of late. After not taking part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the 38-year-old wasn't included in Punjab's Ranji team. All this might go against Harbhajan and he might not be part of the IPL anymore.