5 Players CSK Must Release For The Good Of The Franchise
Chennai Super Kings had a forgettable campaign in 2020. After continually reaching the playoffs in every season they were part of, things went differently for them in UAE. They finished seventh, and if not for some fearless performances in the latter stages, there could have been more embarrassments for them.
The way forward is pretty simple. The management has to get another chance, while it should be a few players who must pay the price. A breath of fresh air is necessary, and at the same time, some players have to be given a pink-slip. If some of these players arrive in yellow next season, there would be an overall doubt if the intent of the management is right. And as seen with other teams on multiple occasions, the road downhill from then can be a quick journey. On that note, in this article, we talk about five players CSK must release for the good of the franchise.
1. Kedar Jadhav
A veteran of the game, it was surprising to see the way Kedar Jadhav played this season. When a guy like Suresh Raina was unavailable, Jadhav must have taken more responsibilities. However, the Pune-based cricketer added more pressure on the team with his underwhelming batting show. He irritated the fans and the fact that he was one of the highest-paid guys in the franchise called for some severe criticism. It is a no-brainer that he should leave the squad. For him, restarting at a different franchise could be a good idea and for the franchise, using Jadhav's money elsewhere should be a priority.
2. Murali Vijay
The reason why CSK hired Murali Vijay in 2018 is understandable. The player was at a low at that time, and CSK hoped that his drive to return to the Indian Team could help him do exceedingly for the franchise. However, none of it happened, and it did not happen in 2020 too. Vijay seems to have forgotten his true self of a fearless attacking cricketer. There were too many faults from his side, and it is better if CSK releases him ahead of the upcoming campaign.
3. Harbhajan Singh
We wouldn't read much into Bhajji's decision to pull out of IPL 2020. It was a sensitive situation, and his decision had to be respected. That said, CSK must still look to part ways with the experienced spinner. He is no longer active in domestic cricket and might be a liability next season. The performances have also not been extraordinary to take the risk. Moreover, off the field, his way of going about things on social media is distracting and could spill over to the dressing room. Hence, CSK must release Bhajji for the good of the franchise.
4. Piyush Chawla
Spending a chunk of your purse on a player like Piyush Chawla was a big gamble that CSK had taken. And, as expected, it failed to pay. Despite getting many chances, Piyush found it difficult to make a statement in IPL 2020. His bowling was predictable, and the basics were out of place. Most importantly, representing a top team in a world-class competition, Piyush's fitness was below standards. His waistline was a matter of discussion amongst the fans, and for this reason alone, he must be penalized ahead of the next campaign.
5. Imran Tahir
Now, you may be thinking as to why we have gone with Imran Tahir as one of the options in this list. The reason is simple. Tahir is well past the average age of the squad and considering there are just eight overseas slots, you cannot afford to have one of them to be 40+. Moreover, even when he played a few games in IPL 2020, he did not look like the older version of himself. These factors must be enough to convince CSK to release the South African.