3 players CSK should've released ahead of the IPL 2024 auction
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have made big moves ahead of the 2024 Indian Premier League auction, which will be held in Dubai on Tuesday, December 19.
The Men in Yellow are coming off a record-equaling fifth IPL title. They didn't waste any time in trying to reach #6, as they let go of quite a few players ahead of the auction. Ben Stokes, signed for ₹16.25 crore last year, was the most notable release.
At the same time, though, there are a few players who are on massive contracts without justifying their price tags, while others are nearing the end of their careers and haven't been in great form recently.
The Super Kings would've been in an even better position had they been slightly more trigger-happy.
CSK's squad ahead of IPL 2024 auction: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Devon Conway, Shivam Dube, Mitchell Santner, Tushar Deshpande, Ravindra Jadeja, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Nishant Sindhu, Ajinkya Rahane, Ajay Mandal, Shaik Rasheed
Here are three players CSK should've released ahead of the IPL 2024 auction:
#3 Moeen Ali
At his best, Moeen Ali adds tons of value to the CSK franchise. As a left-hander capable of hitting both pace and spin, as well as an off-spinner who can turn the ball big, the all-rounder is tailormade for Chepauk.
However, Moeen hasn't been anywhere close to his best recently. Chennai haven't been able to give him the top-order role that made him so successful in his maiden season with the franchise, and his bowling has also regressed a bit. In IPL 2023, the Englishman scored 124 runs and picked up nine wickets in 15 games.
CSK have a team packed with left-handers, including Devon Conway, Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja, meaning that Moeen isn't a necessity anymore. He's earning ₹8 crore, an amount that hasn't been justified by his performances.
CSK will also be able to move on from Moeen fairly easily, with options like Tristan Stubbs and Michael Bracewell in the market. However, it's understandable that they wanted to stick with him, as he could turn out to be a match-winner if he finds form.
#2 Simarjeet Singh
Simarjeet Singh didn't play a game in IPL 2023, as injuries and the emergence of domestic fast bowlers like Tushar Deshpande and Akash Singh kept him out of the side.
Simarjeet also hasn't played competitive cricket in 2023, with his last outing for Delhi coming in December 2022. The fast bowler has been laid low by fitness and form concerns for quite a while.
Despite these factors, CSK have chosen to retain Simarjeet while releasing names such as Akash. He doesn't offer anything with the bat and also seems to be a one-dimensional T20 bowler, with nothing particular in his skillset standing out.
Had Chennai released the 25-year-old, they would've been able to target other, more exciting options.
#1 Deepak Chahar
Over the last two seasons, Deepak Chahar has played 10 games. He missed the entirety of the 2022 campaign before suffering another injury in 2023, playing only two-third of CSK's games.
Chahar's economy rates over the last two seasons he has played have been 8.35 and 8.74. That isn't good enough for a bowler who doesn't bowl at the death very often. He has also averaged just over one wicket per game.
Chahar draws ₹14 crore, and his batting ability is the primary reason behind his exorbitant price tag. However, he has scored 16 runs in his last four IPL campaigns - an average of four runs per season.
Chahar is still a valuable T20 asset, but there's no way he's worth his current contract. CSK stick by their players through thick and thin, but they're pushing the limits of their budget by investing so much in a player who is not only often unavailable but also inconsistent.