Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are unlikely to pursue promising batsman Rachin Ravindra in the IPL 2024 Auction.
Sanjar Manjrekar cast doubts over Chennai Super Kings’ pursuit of young batting sensation Rachin Ravindra in the IPL 2024 Auction despite his stellar performance in the ODI World Cup. Ravindra emerged as a standout performer for New Zealand, tallying 578 runs in 10 matches at an impressive average of 64.22, including three centuries and two half-centuries. With a base price of INR 50 Lakh, he’s expected to command a high bidding war.
However, Manjrekar suggested that CSK, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, might not prioritize acquiring Ravindra due to their strong opening pair’s success, obtaining a significant portion of their runs. Manjrekar also doubts Ravindra’s potential impact in the middle-order, believing it’s challenging for him to make a mark at number four or five.
“As a reserve batter, if it doesn’t cost too much after seeing how the auction goes. But I don’t see Mahendra Singh Dhoni changing his opening combination because they got virtually 80 percent of their runs from there. Batting in the middle order in the IPL will be tough for a guy like Rachin. He had to be in the top three and top two. If you ask me, to make the kind of impact at number four and five in the IPL for somebody like him will be tough. I don’t think they will be looking at that. They’ve got their foreign players,” Manjrekar said when speaking on Star Sports.
However, Manjrekar proposed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as a potential destination for Ravindra if Faf du Plessis agrees to shift to number three, allowing room for Ravindra to partner with Virat Kohli in the batting lineup. This adjustment could provide an opportunity for Ravindra to slot into RCB’s strategy for the upcoming season of the tournament.
Last Updated on December 18, 2023
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