CSK will be looking for Sam Curran, Manish Pandey in IPL mini-auction: Robin Uthappa

Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa has predicted Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2023 auction plans and noted the areas they will look to fill. Notably, Uthappa played in the previous IPL season for the Chennai Super Kings which turned out to be his last and his retirement has now opened up a slot for an Indian batter.  

CSK will enter the auction with the purse of INR 20.45 crore and they have already appointed Dwayne Bravo as the bowling coach after the retentions. The four-time IPL champions finished ninth in the points table in the previous season and all eyes will be on the names that CSK will go after in the auction which is scheduled on December 23 in Kochi.  

CSK need an all-rounder to replace Dwayne Bravo: Robin Uthappa 

Uthappa noted that an all-rounder to replace Bravo and an Indian middle-order batter will be two slots that CSK will be keen to fill. He further mentioned about Sam Curran being an ideal choice to replace Bravo while going for the Karnataka lad Manish Pandey as the Indian middle-order option.  

“CSK hey need an all-rounder to replace Dwayne Bravo and they need a solid India middle-order batter as a backup for the players that they already have. In that, I think they will look for the likes of Sam Curran because he has already played for CSK in the past, he’s done well for them and has contributed to their success so they will definitely try and go for him,” said Uthappa while being part of JioCinema’s IPL Player Auction Expert Panel. 

“The second one would be an Indian batter in the middle order and the ones that are available in this auction seem to be like Manish Pandey, he has done exceptionally well in the IPL and is also someone who is experienced and would really enjoy playing in the CSK culture. These are the two players they will go for but in case they don’t get them – I am certain there are other options that they already have,” he added.