IPL 2021: 3 CSK players who might be playing their last season
Cricket
IMAGE CREDITS: CSK TWITTER
When Cheteshwar Pujara was picked up by CSK in the IPL 2021 auction, the room erupted in a chorus of cheers. India's Test warhorse found an IPL franchise for the first time in several years, with almost all other members of the Test squad being regulars in the tournament.
Cheteshwar Pujara
3
IMAGE CREDITS: CSK TWITTER
Pujara's renewed exposure to the IPL may not last long, though. The veteran is behind a long line of quality T20 players at CSK and may not get an opportunity this season to prove what he can bring to a limited-overs side.
IMAGE CREDITS: CHETESHWAR PUJARA TWITTER
Also, if he doesn't play, franchisees aren't going to be keen to raise their paddles for him at next year's auction. Pujara's second lease of life in the IPL might end at the end of this campaign.
West Indies legend Dwayne Bravo has been synonymous with the T20 format and the IPL since the inception of both. The 37-year-old has braved the winds of time to continue to turn in exceptional performances, even if his batting and the pace of his bowling have waned in recent years.
Dwayne Bravo
2
It was recently revealed that the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE will be Bravo's final stint with the West Indies national team. And unlike 2018, this decision seems to be one taken with an eye on his body and his ability to perform at the highest level.
IMAGE CREDITS: IPLT20
If Bravo retires from international cricket, it will be very difficult for him to keep an IPL career alive. Not only will he be without top-level match practice, but he will also find it difficult to keep himself in shape round the year. The all-rounder is running his last miles, and IPL 2021 might prove to be the final leg of his incredible IPL journey.
IMAGE CREDITS: IPLT20
Ah, MS Dhoni. If you had a dollar for every time someone mentioned Dhoni's retirement, you could buy the CSK franchise and maybe even the IPL. The former India captain is still going strong fitness-wise, even if his batting hasn't been what it once was.
MS Dhoni
1
IMAGE CREDITS: IPLT20
Dhoni would be a difficult proposition for CSK to retain since he is probably overvalued by the retention brackets, and the franchise's greatest-ever player (arguably) going into the mega-auction won't be a sight that pleases fans.
IMAGE CREDITS: IPLT20
It might be unwise for CSK to even think about retaining Dhoni, considering he is 40 years old and hasn't played international cricket since 2019. Captain Cool might be playing his last season with the Men in Yellow, but it seems inevitable that he will be involved with the franchise in some form over the next few IPL seasons.