IPL auction 2020: 3 overseas pacers Chennai Super Kings should look to bring back into the team
The Chennai Super Kings have released five players - Sam Billings, David Willey, Mohit Sharma, Dhruv Shorey and Chitanya Bishnoi, as well as the replacement signing Scott Kuggeleijn - ahead of the 2020 IPL auction.
Despite the fact that CSK have retained their core for the 13th edition of the IPL, they do have a few areas to address if they want to equal their arch-rivals Mumbai Indians' record of four IPL titles. The pace department is one of the departments which needs a major revamp.
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With INR 14.6 crore available in their purse and two overseas slots vacant, they will be aiming to bring in a quality, proven overseas pacer to bolster their attack. Mitchell Starc would be their top target, but the available purse doesn't seem large enough to secure Starc and also fill up the remaining four slots with quality players.
Hence, they must look at other smart options to target at the 19 December auction in Kolkata. And luckily for them, three of their former players look good to make a comeback to the Chepauk.
Here's a look at three former CSK pacers who could stage a comeback to the team for IPL 2020:
#1 Andrew Tye
Not many would know that Andrew Tye actually began his IPL career with Chennai Super Kings in 2015. The Australian pacer, who was an uncapped player back then, did not get an opportunity to don the famous yellow jersey throughout Season 8 after being bought by the MS Dhoni-led franchise at his base of just INR 20 lakh.
Tye then moved to the now-defunct Gujarat Lions where he made his dream IPL debut in 2017 against the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant. He was the first-ever debutant to pick up an IPL hat-trick, and finished with figures of 5/17.
Tye's impressive short stint with Gujarat Lions (12 wickets in 6 matches) earned him a lucrative contract with Kings XI Punjab ahead of IPL 2018. At the auction, CSK's intent was pretty clear as they indulged in a bidding war with Punjab until INR 7 crore, before the Mohali franchise came up with the winning bid of INR 7.2 crore.
The 32-year-old, who impressed by picking up 24 wickets in Season 11 and winning the Purple Cap, failed to replicate his success in IPL 2019 (three wickets in six matches). That eventually led to his release ahead of the 2020 auction.
With Lungi Ngidi being injury-prone and Shardul Thakur and Dwayne Bravo being quite expensive (especially at the death), Chennai needs a proven, quality overseas pacer. And Tye, with 194 T20 wickets to his name, might just be the right candidate.