IPL 2020: 3 players CSK can target in mid-season transfer

While the much-awaited cricketing contest has hit the floors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, it has apparently cleared the gloomy clouds of despondency with happiness and elation. Bringing back the lost smiles on the faces of the eternal fans, cricket has united the hearts of all Indians in times that call for ‘social distancing’.

With the cash-rich league stepping into the third week ever since its commencement, a myriad of enigma and theatrics has unfolded on the cricket ground ensuring that viewers have a tough time controlling emotions despite sitting in the comforts of the couch. In what can turn out to be the biggest upset for the yellow brigade causing them apathy is the poor display of performance by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad.

Embarking the 13th edition of the IPL with a win, the lions appeared to be off-colours in the latter three matches snatching away from 6 significant points from them. Only when things started to look brilliant against Kings XI Punjab, MS Dhoni-led side lost an important match by 10 meagre runs against Kolkata Knight Riders which had victory written in the bold letter all over it.

On that note, this article attempts to demystify the names of players which the team management would love to eye on as the mid-season transfer window appears to knock the doors in the coming week. With the likes of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh already pulling out from the tournament, it is sure that the team management would trade in some expensive players who can rise up to the occasion when the team demands the most from them.

Here is the list of three players whom Chennai Super Kings (CSK) must target:

1. Parthiv Patel

The 35-year-old is currently plying his trade for Royal Challengers Bangalore. The seasoned campaigner for the Men-in-red in the 12^th edition of the IPL was retained for his heroics with the willow. The left-handed opener has the capacity to render a spectacular start to any team he plays for.

Amassing as many as 2848 runs in 139 matches in his entire IPL career, the Gujarat-cricketing brain has an impressive strike rate of 120.78 to his name. The southpaw has been warming up the benches owing to the extraordinaire display of woodwork by his compatriot Devdutt Paddikal as an opener.

Filling up the lack-lustrous opening combination, Parthiv Patel can fill the shoes of the great-opening-stand deprived Chennai Super Kings. Scoring below-par runs in the powerplay overs, the lion’s den is craving for an elegant top-order batsman like Parthiv Patel who can contribute immensely in hunting down huge targets or setting up one.

2. Virat Singh

The dynamic-left-handed-batsman was brought at a whopping price of INR 1.9 crores by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 13^th IPL auction. Despite the fact that the star-batsman has not got his name in the playing-XI till now, the talisman holds immense talent in his wrist.

The budding cricketing talent has been seen mastering the art under the guidance of the legend VVS Laksman in the Sunrisers camp. The leading run-scorer for Jharkhand in the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, the prolific-match winner garnered heaps of praises for scoring 343 runs in 10 matches with an outstanding strike-rate of 142.32.

The left-handed batsman is expected to don the yellow jersey in the second half of the ongoing IPL. Bolstering the middle-order conundrum, Virat can answer to all the questions raised by people with his classy-power-hitting shots. He can replace the domestic cricketing champ Narayan Jagadeesan with comfort and ease.

3. Deepak Hooda

The terrific-batsman is known for his fireworks with the bat at crucial moments. Weathering all storms, Hooda can be a value-addition to the lion’s den. He can add the much-needed balance to the middle-order department which seems to be under-performing leading to continuous defeat by the Men-in-yellow.

The team management must be rolling their eyes at the southpaw to mount-much needed pressure on the tearaway pace attacks of strong opposite teams. Having scored 524 runs in 61 matches with a stellar strike rate of 127.18, Deepak can scintillate the yellow jersey which is lacking its brightness at the moment.

Brought by Kings XI Punjab for INR 50 lakhs, Deepak may replace Narayan Jagadeesan. Hoping to change the fortunes for the CSK squad, the legend on 22 yards may get the team back on track with his consistent performance with the bat when the tournament narrows down to the end.