IPL 2020: Three players Chennai Super Kings should have released

On the last day before all the teams announced the names of retained players for IPL 2020, Chennai Super Kings released five of their players ahead of the auction next month. Chennai let go of two overseas players, namely David Willey and Sam Billings, while three Indian players, including their most expensive buy from the last auction, Mohit Sharma were also released by the franchise.

With a remaining purse value of INR 14.2 Cr, the Chennai-based franchise still have five available slots to pick the best possible players in the auction. The Dhoni-led team will also target a few overseas players, with only two potential spots left with the team.

While they let-go of players who were expected to be released, the franchise still had room for more players who could have been sent back into the auction. CSK retained a total of 19 players including the likes of Murali Vijay, Kedhar Jadhav, etc. and many others who didn't enjoy a great outing in the previous edition of the league.

Also see - India vs Bangladesh schedule 2019

Here we take a look at 3 players who should have been released by CSK:

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#3 Karn Sharma

Karn Sharma picked a solitary wicket in IPL 2019

The leg-spinner from Railways, Karn Sharma, didn't get his fair share of opportunities in IPL 2019. Despite playing on pitches which were conducive to spin bowling, Sharma was the fourth or the fifth choice spinner in the team after the experienced Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir, and others. The UP-born lad, who was bought for a hefty price of INR 5 Cr in IPL 2018, failed to break into the playing XI on a regular basis.

He played a solitary game for the 'Men in Yellow' in the entire edition and was rightly expected to be released this season. However, his retention in the team does raise eyebrows given CSK already have a pool of quality spinners who tend to get an opportunity before Karn on most occasions.

Had CSK released him, it would have given their remaining purse a major boost to go full throttle and bid for players with much more clarity and freedom in the upcoming auction.

CSK's spin line-up is lead by Harbhajan.

#2. Murali Vijay

Vijay was a mere spectator for a majority of IPL 2019

The India opener who's currently out of the Indian Test team, Murali Vijay, was another such retention that lacked reasoning and cricketing logic. The Tamil Nadu opener, who was bought at his base price in IPL 2018 for an auction price of ₹2 Cr, didn't create any impact in CSK's campaign in IPL 2019.

He played only two games as an opener, scoring 64 runs and did no good to his cause for the remaining games. He was warming the bench for the entire season and never gave his skipper enough confidence to take him in the side.

It is no doubt that being a Test specialist Vjay has often been sidelined for a supposed lack in prowess in the shorter versions of the game. Though he was a star for CSK in the earlier years in the IPL ,he has failed to put up any show of note in the recent past at various levels of cricket.

His retention in the team only supports the team's desire for an experienced back-up Indian opener who is well acclimatized to the conditions at Chennai.

#1. Kedar Jadhav

Jadhav struggled to get going in IPL 2019

The Indian batting all-rounder, Kedar Jadhav, had a miserable outing with the bat in IPL 2019. Despite instilling entire faith in his capabilities, Jadhav disappointed the franchise and the team management with only 162 runs in the entire season. In 14 games for CSK, Kedar averaged merely 18 and had a poor strike rate below 100. Strangely, he has never bowled in the IPL.

Kedar, who was bought for a whopping auction price of INR 7.8 Cr in IPL 2018, was one of their key players before the tournament. A player whose career has survived injuries, the Maharashtra batsman was even ruled out due to his shoulder injury for the last league match.

His dip in form and the lack of runs clearly suggested his ouster from the team and a possible release ahead of the auction. However, CSK have once again given him the opportunity to put aside the disappointment from the last season and carve out an image for himself in the season ahead.

Mohit Sharma has been released by the franchise.