Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are very tactical during the auctions. They take time to get going, but they manage to scout some really talented players. And that is exactly what they did this time as well, as they bagged the services of England all-rounder Ben Stokes for a whopping INR 16.25 crore. It was one of CSK’s best purchases as they strengthened their squad in a brilliant manner.
While everyone thought they would go for Sam Curran to get him back into their side, it came as a surprise when CSK went all in for Stokes. CSK entered the auction with a purse of INR 20.45 crore and seven slots to fill, including two overseas slots. At the IPL 2023 auction, CSK made some surprising purchases and went all in for Stokes.
1. Rajvardhan Hangargekar
Hangargekar would have experienced this range of emotions as he made his IPL and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) debut against the Gujarat Titans (GT). Prior to IPL 2022, he was picked by CSK but did not play a single game. Here he was, hoping to kickstart their campaign in 2023, and longing to right the wrongs that occurred last year.
But if you saw him, you would not have believed this was a pacer bowling for the first time in the IPL. Of course, it was not like he was spotless. Bowlers his age are prone to odd transgressions and odd moments of madness. Hangargekar, in line with that notion, bowled a no-ball and offered up a couple of freebies that the opposing batters punished.
2. Tushar Deshpande
Chennai Super Kings’ Tushar Deshpande on Friday became the first cricketer to be used as an impact player of the Indian Premier League, when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to bring in the pacer in place of the batter Ambati Rayudu in the tournament opener against Gujarat Titans.
Asked to bat first, Dhoni-led CSK posted a competitive total of 178 for 7, riding on an impressive knock of 92 from opener Ruturaj Gaikwad at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad. Ruturaj smacked nine maximums and four fours during his whirlwind 50-ball knock. For hosts GT, pacers Mohammed Shami (2/29), Alzarri Joseph (2/33) and spinner Rashid Khan (2/26) shared two CSK wickets each.
3. Matheesha Pathirana
Matheesha Pathirana (born 18 December 2002) is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He has been referred to as Baby Malinga, as he has modelled his bowling action after Lasith Malinga. In August 2021, he was named in the SLC Greys’ squad for the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League.
He made his Twenty20 debut on 22 August 2021, for SLC Greys in the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League. Prior to his Twenty20 debut, he was part of Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. In January 2022, he was named in Sri Lanka’s team for the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.
4. Simarjeet Singh
Simarjeet made his List A debut for Delhi in the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy on 20 September 2018. He made his first-class debut for Delhi in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy on 20 November 2018. He made his Twenty20 debut on 11 November 2019, for Delhi in the 2019–20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
In June 2021, he was named as one of five net bowlers for India’s tour of Sri Lanka. Following a positive case for COVID-19 in the Indian team, Singh was added to India’s main squad for their final two Twenty20 International (T20I) matches of the tour.
5. Deepak Chahar
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fast bowler Deepak Chahar has stated that he is hoping to play the entire season of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) without injury. The 30-year-old bowler, who is a key member of CSK, was out for more than eight months last year due to a stress fracture and a quad grade 3 tear. He returned to the squad for the ongoing edition of the cash-rich league.
Chahar believes that returning from an injury is difficult for a fast bowler. He added that he hoped not to get it again and that he intended to play the entire season.
6. Prashant Solanki
Prashant Solanki (born 22 February 2000) is an Indian cricketer. He made his List A debut on 25 February 2021, for Mumbai in the 2020–21 Vijay Hazare Trophy, taking a five-wicket haul in the match. He made his Twenty20 debut on 9 November 2021, for Mumbai in the 2021–22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
In February 2022, he was bought by the Chennai Super Kings in the auction for the 2022 Indian Premier League tournament. He made his first-class debut on 24 February 2022, for Mumbai in the 2021–22 Ranji Trophy.