3 players CSK might release ahead of IPL 2023

1. Robin Uthappa

The walking assassin, Robin Uthappa, was the surprise package for CSK in the 2021 season. Robin didn’t get even a single opportunity to wear the yellow jersey till the 13th match of the 2021 season. The mastermind, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, decided to put him in the playing eleven in place of an injured or rather struggling Suresh Raina. Though, Robbie didn’t have a great IPL debut for Chennai Super Kings, the 19-run innings was of substance, which earned him a spot in the playing eleven.

Then, Robbie repaid the trust shown by the management with a match-winning 63 off just 44 deliveries in the first qualifier against the same opponents, Delhi Capitals, and took Chennai to the IPL 2021 Finals. We were seeing the Uthappa of the old times, who would just walk down the wicket to fast bowlers and whack them over mid-on and mid-off for fun. Robin’s role was a short and sweet one in 2021 for CSK, where he played four innings and scored 115 runs in the final stages of the tournament. Robin also scored a quick-fire 15-ball 31 in the finals against his former teammates KKR, helping CSK to an above-par total.

Being the franchise CSK has been, who just doesn’t leave out players who have won matches for them, and these little gem match-winning innings of Robin, ensured him a place in the CSK setup in 2022 as well. Robin started the 2022 season in some fashion, scoring two fifties in the first five games, but went downhill like a rolling balls as Robin had scores of 3, 30, 1, 1, 0 and 1 in the last five innings. Robin, being the player he is, is suitable as either an opener or a one-down batter. Currently, with Ruturaj Gaikway and Devon Conway firing, and Moen Ali being the batting all-rounder at number three, the CSK setup has both the opening slot and the one-down slot filled with potentially younger players who can play for another three to four years.

The management would rather look to groom the younger bunch than to again rely on players who might miss out sooner than later. With such below-par scores, Robin’s inclusion disturbing the balance of the side and most importantly age also not being on Uthappa’s side, CSK were left with no other option but to drop him from the first eleven and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they release the 36-year-old to make way for new faces in the squad next year.