IPL 2020 Auction: 3 areas of concern for CSK and who they should target

Three-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings' team philosophy of backing a constant set was yet again in focus as the MS Dhoni-led side opted to let go of just six players ahead of the upcoming player auction set to take place in Kolkata on 19th December.

Having let go of foreign speedsters David Willey and Scott Kuggeleijn apart from Englishman Sam Billings and the Indian trio of Mohit Sharma, Chaitanya Bishnoi and Dhruv Shorey, CSK have just 5 slots to fill at the auction and have a purse worth ₹14.60 crores left to spend.

The Super Kings' biggest advantage is their strong Indian core, boasting of the likes of MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja among other big names. Needing to sign two overseas players from the player auction, expect the franchise to get into bidding wars for a few big names set to come under the hammer.

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And, despite a run till the final last season, CSK might want to plug a few gaps in their squad, and in this article, we have a look at three areas they could be targetting and the players they will look to sign.

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#3 Specialist foreign batsman

Shaun Marsh in action for KXIP

CSK have let go of Sam Billings ahead of the auction, and the only two specialist foreign batsmen they have in the side are Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis. Although they have a strong Indian contingent of Kedhar Jadhav, Raina, and MS Dhoni, they might want to pick someone who can play as a backup to Watson and Du Plessis.

With Jadhav and Raina also missing out on quality match practice and MS Dhoni having last played a T20 when he turned out for CSK against MI in the IPL 2019 final, one might wonder if the trio can still produce as finishers of the team.

Someone like David Miller or Shaun Marsh who will add experience to the side could be good picks, while England's Eoin Morgan has been in good form off late and can be backed to play the anchor's role.

#2 Big-hitting all-rounder

Will Chris Morris make a comeback to the CSK side?

CSK have two specialist finishers in the side in Dwayne Bravo and MS Dhoni. With Ravindra Jadeja and Kedar Jadhav also capable of producing fireworks in the death overs, CSK have always had the players to score some crucial runs in the end.

Yet, the form of these aforementioned players with the bat in recent times has come under the scanner, and CSK might want to sign someone who has been in good form in the lower middle, with big names such as James Neesham and Glenn Maxwell having thrown their hat in the ring.

The three-time champions could also look to sign Sam Curran or Chris Morris from the auction, given that both the seam bowlers are more than capable of using the long handle to good effect.

Yet, one issue that CSK might face would be to try and fill in their four foreign slots, with Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo, Imran Tahir, Faf du Plessis and Lungi Ngidi the front-runners to land the four positions.

One might think that CSK could be looking to invest on Indian talent, someone such as Deepak Hooda or Jalaj Saxena to give them the impetus in the final overs and chip in with a few overs with the ball as well.

#3 Backup pace bowlers

Sheldon Cottrell

Under MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar has blossomed into a quality powerplay overs bowler, and in the company of Lungi Ngidi, the duo will lead CSK's pace bowling unit. Having retained Shardul Thakur and KM Asif, CSK do have a couple of options to pick on the bowling front.

Yet, Ngidi missed the entirety of last season due to injury, and with Deepak Chahar unable to make too much impact at the death for the national side in recent times, CSK might want to sign a backup for their two lead pacers.

One major name they could consider is Jaydev Unadkat, who offers some variety to the bowling unit apart from quite a lot of experience from having played in the IPL. On the foreign pacers' front, CSK could target Sheldon Cottrell, who can certainly be a like-for-like replacement for David Willey and has also been in good form in the ongoing Indian tour.