5 players from the 2015 CSK squad MS Dhoni would want in Pune

The 8-year history of the Indian Premier League has seen many team-player associations; however, you are unlikely to find a better one than that between Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings. Six finals and two IPL titles later, the association has finally come to a cruel end in the wake of the 2-year suspension handed out to Chennai.In the present day, though, the situation has changed as MS Dhoni is now set to resume his IPL journey with a new team from Pune as a result of the draft which took place on 15 December for the two new franchises, the other being from Rajkot.The draft also separated Dhoni from three of his trusted soldiers at CSK – Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, and Dwayne Bravo and an important associate in Brendon McCullum. However, he does have Ravichandran Ashwin by his side and will be hoping his franchise can rope in some of his favoured CSK players at the main auction.Here are 5 players from last year’s CSK squad whom Dhoni would want in Pune:

#5 Ishwar Pandey

Dhoni used Ishwar Pandey quite effectively last season

Another CSK player whom Dhoni would look to include in the Pune side is seam bowler Ishwar Pandey. In the 10 matches Pandey played last season, he picked up 11 wickets and his economy rate of 7.19 was the best among all Chennai pacers.

MS Dhoni always focused on building a strong Indian core for CSK and will be looking to do the same with Pune as well. Considering this, someone like Pandey looks to fit in quite comfortably in Dhoni and Pune’s scheme of things for the 2016 IPL season.

#4 Pawan Negi

MS Dhoni has backed the youngster a lot

The diminutive left-arm spinner from CSK, Pawan Negi, is another youngster who received a lot of backing from his skipper MS Dhoni. Negi had become an overnight sensation after he took a five-wicket haul to lead Chennai to victory against KKR in the final of the 2014 Champions League T20.

Dhoni has been the one to explore the southpaw’s all round skills and has given him opportunities with the bat as well. He may want to include a tried and tested Pawan Negi to partner Ashwin with the ball for Pune and also contribute with some runs lower down.

#3 Mohit Sharma

Mohit Sharma is one of Dhoni’s biggest finds from the IPL

It may not be wrong to say that MS Dhoni has been somewhat of a ‘godfather’ to Mohit Sharma. No one knew much about this young pacer until Dhoni decided to unveil him in the 2013 season of the IPL and there has been no looking back for Mohit ever since.

MSD’s backing has even helped the seamer become a regular member of India’s ODI and T20I team. It will be interesting to see whether or not he tries to draft Mohit Sharma into his new franchise as well.

#2 Ashish Nehra

Nehra excelled for CSK in the 2015 IPL

Ashish Nehra’s fading career got a new lease to life ever since he joined the Chennai Super Kings. His skipper MS Dhoni showed immense faith in the experienced seamer last season and reaped rich dividends for it as Nehra picked up 22 wickets in the tournament.

With Dwayne Bravo having moved to Rajkot, Dhoni will be looking forward to have at least one of his premier CSK pacers to be a part of the Pune team and Ashish Nehra is most likely to be his first choice.

#1 Dwayne Smith

Dwayne Smith has been a destroyer in the top order for CSK

Big-hitting West Indian batsman Dwayne Smith has enjoyed his time at the IPL ever since he made a move to the Chennai Super Kings. MS Dhoni entrusted him with the responsibility of opening the batting alongside the daredevil Kiwi batsman Brendon McCullum and he carried it out to the best of his potential.

In the 2015 season, Smith scored 399 runs for his team at an impressive T20 average of close to 25 and was one of the key players who helped CSK reach the final. Dhoni would surely want to have someone of the calibre of Dwayne Smith in Pune’s ranks.