IPL auction 2020: 3 Indian pacers Chennai Super Kings might target

The strength of a squad in the IPL depends mainly upon the quality of domestic players across all departments. And despite comprising several big guns of Indian cricket like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja, the Chennai Super Kings lack a proven Indian pacer.

Since returning to the league in 2018 after a two-year hiatus, CSK's search to fill that particular slot hasn't yielded much success. At the last couple of auctions the three-time winners were desperate to sign an experienced Indian pacer who could spearhead their domestic attack. However, they failed in their attempt to sign star Indian pacer Mohammed Shami last year despite bidding up to INR 4.6 crore; Kings XI Punjab snapped him up with a winning bid of INR 4.8 crore.

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That prompted them to go for Mohit Sharma, for whom they surprisingly shelled out INR 5 crore. Mohit has now been released since he didn't prove his worth in the only game he played last season, and Shardul Thakur has been expensive (economy of 9.23 and 9.36 in 2018 and 2019 respectively), so Chennai might once again go all-out at the auction to secure an experienced Indian pacer.

Let us look at three Indian fast bowlers that CSK might target at 2020 IPL auction.

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#1 Jaydev Unadkat

Jaydev Unadkat

Jaydev Unadkat, who was bought for a whopping INR 11.50 crore at the 2018 auction by Rajasthan Royals, was released ahead of the 2019 auction - only to be bought back by the Jaipur-based franchise for a sum of INR 8.4 crore. On both occasions, the Super Kings tried hard to sign the left-arm pacer too.

Chennai's interest in Unadkat was made clear when they bid up to INR 10.5 crore (2018) and INR 5.8 crore (2019) before Rajasthan Royals came up with the winning bids of INR 11.50 crore and INR 8.4 crore respectively. With the Saurashtra seamer all set to go under the hammer on 19 December at Kolkata, we can expect the three-time winners to once again bid for Unadkat given his experience across formats (260 first-class, 133 List A and 168 T20 wickets).

With 77 IPL wickets to his name, the 28-year-old pacer - who excelled playing alongside MS Dhoni at Rising Pune Supergiant - might head to Chepauk next season. Unadkat might also be hoping to make a mark for a brand new franchise after his mediocre two-year stint with the inaugural winners.

#2 Ganesan Periyasamy

Ganesan Periyasamy

Ganesan Periyasamy grabbed the headlines with his stellar performance for Chepauk Super Gillies during their victorious 2019 Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) campaign. Apart from finishing as the highest wicket-taker of the season with 21 scalps at an economy of 6.47, the 25-year-old pacer was adjudged the Player of the Tournament for his exploits with the ball too.

What distinguishes Periyasamy from his colleagues is his slinging action that can bamboozle batsmen easily.

The 'Salem Slinger' received his maiden Tamil Nadu call-up during the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where the Dinesh Karthik-led side finished as runners-up. Periyasamy, who took a five-wicket haul in the 2019 TNPL final, took three wickets on his T20 debut against Kerala and went on to finish the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy with eight wickets.

With CSK bowlers proving costly in the death overs, Periyasamy might be the answer for Dhoni's men at the 2020 IPL given his slingy action, form, pace and familiarity with the Chepauk conditions.

#3 Roosh Kalaria

Roosh Kalaria

Roosh Kalaria, who was a part of the Indian Colts' victorious 2012 ICC Under 19 World Cup winning squad, is another left-arm seamer who could help CSK's cause in IPL 2020.

Although Kalaria is yet to play in the IPL, he could earn a lucrative contract this time given that he has impressed greatly in the Indian domestic circuit of late. Kalaria emerged as Gujarat's highest wicket-taker (fourth overall) at the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy with 21 wickets. A consistent performer in domestic tournaments, the Gujarat pacer has 133 first-class and 66 List A wickets to his name.

His economy of 6.24 proves his credentials in the shorter format, where he has taken 33 wickets so far. In the recently concluded 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Kalaria took eight wickets at an economy of just 4.29.

With left-arm Indian seamers being a rarity, the 26-year-old deserves an IPL contract to prove himself on the world stage. CSK's search for an economical pacer could come to an end if they sign Kalaria at the 2020 auction.