MS Dhoni wants CSK to buy this Indian player in the IPL auction

The former India captain MS Dhoni has revealed the plans of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL auction later this month. The franchise has also retained Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja along with Dhoni in the player retention event a fortnight ago. It is also not surprising that the captain cool will be back at the helm for them after a gap of two years. However, it remains to be seen what kind of players they pick for the upcoming season the cash-rich T20 league.

CSK is leaving no stone unturned in their preparations as they return to the fray after serving the suspension for two years. They along with Rajasthan Royals (RR) were banned from playing in the league after their alleged involvement in the spot-fixing scandal which broke through in 2013. CSK is the only team to have qualified for the playoffs in all eight editions of the Indian T20 league and they would like to continue their prowess in the upcoming season.

Want local players in the team

MS Dhoni has urged the franchise to buy the local players in the team during the auction. He also insisted that they will go for R Ashwin aggressively and want him in the team at any cost as he is the local player as well. He was also aware that they cannot use Right to Match (RTM) card for him as they have already retained three Indian players. “We will definitely go for him [Ashwin] in the auction. He is a local lad. We want a lot of local players in CSK,” he said at a promotional event in Chennai.

“We also have Brendon McCullum, Faf du Plessis and Dwayne Bravo (our former players). We have two RTMs. But we have to know when and where to use them.With Ashwin we cannot use the RTM as we have already got three Indian players retained. We have to buy him in the auction. He will come first in the auction. But as I said, we will have to wait and watch. We will try to get him,” he added.

The captain cool of CSK also pointed out that a lot of teams target the former players of the franchise at the auction. “At an auction, we also have to look at how much money we can afford to go for each individual as we look to make a strong team. In the past, we have seen a lot of teams target former CSK players. We may have to keep the emotions aside, we may want somebody, but if his price goes outside our range, we have to let him go because we have to focus on making the complete side,” MS Dhoni concluded.

The keen reader of the game won’t be present for the auctions but seems to have discussed the strategy with the management. He was aware of the team composition as well and would be having an eye on the auctions from South Africa where he will be preparing for the upcoming ODI series against the Proteas.

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