'If MS Dhoni plays, he will be the first retention' - Aakash Chopra lists out CSK's mega auction plans for IPL 2022 season

Even as the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to commence on September 19 (Sunday), the franchises will have one eye on the upcoming mega auction. They will have an eye on the performance of a few players which might decide their top retentions as well. For the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), they have a big decision to make on their skipper MS Dhoni.

The man has retired from international cricket and there is no idea yet if he wants to play one more season. According to former India cricketer Aakash Chopra, Dhoni will play one more IPL season and if he conveys it to the management, CSK will definitely retain him as a first player. Three-year contracts are handed out to the players in the mega auction and Chopra feels CSK will retain their captain even if it is for only a year.

“One thought is that you do not retain MS Dhoni. But CSK without MS Dhoni is like a body without a soul. I feel he will play one more year. There are a lot of speculations if the current one is his last IPL, I feel he has got one more IPL left in him. Even though he is not a 3-year investment, CSK will not think about that and will retain him as their first retention,” Chopra said in a video on his Youtube channel.

Jadeja may leave if Gujarat franchise comes in the IPL, says Aakash Chopra

IPL 2022 is set to witness 10 teams again and there is a possibility of Gujarat franchise coming up. Aakash Chopra feels Ravindra Jadeja could be the second retention for CSK but things may change if Gujarat turns out to be a new team.

“The second retention, unless Jaddu says he wants to go, he would know by then if a Gujarat team is there and he wants to go there and become the captain. If that happens then it is different, else Jaddu will be the second retention,” the 43-year-old added. Chopra, meanwhile, reckoned CSK may use their Right to Match cards for Deepak Chahar and Suresh Raina.

Deepak has been a vital player for the team ever since he joined the Men in Yellow in 2018. He can swing the new ball and has developed himself as a death bowlers too. As far as Raina is concerned, the southpaw might be CSK’s next skipper after Dhoni hangs up his boots.

“In my opinion, this team will use two ‘Right to Match’ cards. One will be on Deepak Chahar, you will definitely want to retain him, and you can use the RTM card on Suresh Raina. Whom all they will have to let go – Moeen Ali, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Sam Curran. They can buy them in the auction if possible but you will not be able to retain them with the RTM card,” the cricketer-turned-commentator further said.

CSK will resume their IPL campaign with the game against the defending champions Mumbai Indians on September 19.