As the cricket world gears up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, speculations are rife about the future captaincy of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), especially after the team released Ben Stokes, who was earlier seen as a potential successor to the legendary MS Dhoni. The decision now rests with Dhoni, aged 42, and the CSK team management to choose who will take over the reins when Dhoni decides to hang up his boots.
In a surprising turn of events, a social media user, @CricketWithRosh, ignited controversy by posting that Sanju Samson, the dynamic skipper of Rajasthan Royals, was approached by CSK to lead the team and that his appointment was almost stamped before Samson turned down the offer. The tweet claimed, “Sanju Samson was approached by CSK as a captain which was nearly finalized. But it didn’t go through Sanju rejected their offer. There’s a definite possibility in future.” However, this claim was swiftly denied by none other than Ravichandran Ashwin, a key player for Rajasthan Royals and a veteran of Indian cricket. Calling out the fake news, Ashwin rebuked the user with a firm response on his official Twitter handle stating, “Fake news! Don’t lie quoting me.”
The entire episode has drawn the cricket community’s attention to the strategies that might unfold at the upcoming IPL 2024 auction. Star India spinner and strategic pundit Ravichandran Ashwin shared his insights on potential moves by franchises during the auction. Focusing on the batting line-up, he specifically highlighted the prospects of power-hitter Shahrukh Khan, previously part of Punjab Kings, commanding high bids. Khan, known for his explosive batting, notched up 156 runs in 14 matches of the 2022 IPL season with an impressive strike rate of 165.96.
Ashwin reflected on Khan’s contributions to his former team and pondered, “I can definitely see a war between CSK and Gujarat for Shahrukh Khan. Gujarat has let go of Hardik Pandya, and they need a player who can finish the innings, a power player.” He also hypothesized that Khan’s release by Kings might prove to be a boon as he could fetch a price as high as Rs 12-13 crore given the prowess he has demonstrated.
Intriguingly, Ashwin speculates that CSK might prioritize securing Shahrukh Khan, even at the expense of missing out on the Australian pacer Mitchell Starc. Ashwin justified this conjecture by pointing out that CSK lacked a local player of Khan’s caliber, which probably influenced their bid for him in the previous mega auction.
As franchises fine-tune their strategies and fans eagerly wait for the auction, the cricket community continues to speculate over the future skipper for Chennai Super Kings, a team renowned for its leadership and legacy under MS Dhoni. The unfolding of IPL 2024 remains highly anticipated as teams vie for the league’s coveted trophy.
While the world of cricket is abuzz with these speculations and anticipations, the larger question looms – who will lead Chennai Super Kings once the Dhoni era concludes? As we inch closer to the IPL 2024 auction and the subsequent season, that mystery remains unsolved, keeping the excitement and curiosity around CSK’s captaincy debate very much alive.
In the wider sphere of cricket updates, enthusiasts can stay tuned to the latest happenings in the sport, including the ongoing India versus Australia 2023 schedules. Fans are encouraged to follow updates on social media platforms or download cricket apps to remain informed about the latest scores, news, and upcoming fixtures in the world of cricket.