IPL 2025 auction: 3 players Chennai Super Kings (CSK) might target through RTM card

CSK have one RTM card available for the IPL 2025 auction.

Five time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained five players ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.

They have held on to captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 18 crores), Ravindra Jadeja (INR 18 crores), Matheesha Pathirana (INR 13 crores), Shivam Dube (INR 12 crores) and MS Dhoni (INR 4 crores). Through the return of the ‘uncapped player rule,’ the Super Kings got the luxury of retaining their biggest icon, MS Dhoni, for the price of only INR 4 crores.

CSK will head into the IPL 2025 mega auction with INR 55 crores in their purse and one Right-To-Match (RTM) card. The RTM option will allow them to have an opportunity of buying back one player from their released squad members if he is bought by another franchise in the auction.

CSK had a few high-quality T20 match-winners whom they could target and utilise their RTM card on.

3 players CSK might target through RTM card in the IPL 2025 mega auction:

1. Devon Conway

Devon Conway can be believed to be the front-runner on whom the five-time champions may use their RTM option in the mega auction.

The Super Kings are known to have stability and continuity in their squad. They are also known to put heavy trust in their overseas openers. The likes of Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey and Shane Watson are some of the franchise’s most prominent overseas openers, and Devon Conway has carried forward that legacy.

In two IPL seasons at CSK, Conway has racked up 924 runs in 22 innings at an average of 48 with nine fifties to his name and was a huge contributor to their title-winning campaign in 2023.

He missed the IPL 2024 season due to a thumb injury and his absence was a factor in the franchise failing to qualify for the playoffs. CSK might be desperate to get him back in the auction.

2. Rachin Ravindra

Rachin Ravindra is one of the brightest young stars in world cricket currently and he’s especially batted superbly in India.

After amassing 578 runs in the World Cup 2023, he whacked 222 runs in 10 games in IPL 2024 at a strike rate of 160 while showing a positive and intentful approach. Recently, he hit a century and a fifty in the test series in India which was played in tough batting conditions to help New Zealand script their maiden test series win on Indian soil.

Amid his batting exploits, his canny left-arm spin bowling – with which he’s taken 55 T20 wickets while maintaing an economy of 7.07 – is sometimes forgotten.

A calm demenor, 24 years of age, a match-winner with the bat, handy spinner – all elements of Rachin Ravindra are perfect for CSK to use their RTM card on the Kiwi cricketer and build a team around him for the future.

3. Deepak Chahar

In the IPL 2022 mega auction, CSK splurged INR 14 crores on Deepak Chahar, making him the most expensive Indian player they have ever purchased in an IPL auction. Chahar, a powerplay specialist with the ball who can also be a handy hitter lower down the order with the bat, played a significant role for the franchise in winning the IPL 2018 and 2021 titles.

However, he has been plagued with injuries in the last three years. He missed the entire IPL 2022 season and played 18 games combined in the last two editions.

Chahar, though, still remains a wicket-taker in the powerplay and has shown more variations in his arsenal in the latter stages of the game. He recently picked up a five-for against Himachal Pradesh in a Ranji Trophy game.

Having seen his rise and grown over the past seven years, CSK might be tempted to use their RTM on Chahar in the mega auction.

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