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“Pant Met MS Dhoni…”: Suresh Raina
Rumours intensified as Suresh Raina hinted at Rishabh Pant’s potential switch to Chennai Super Kings during IPL retention day.
The speculation of Rishabh Pant wearing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) colours in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season gained new traction following a subtle hint from former India cricketer Suresh Raina on retention day. Pant, who captained Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2024, faced a challenging period with the franchise during contract negotiations, ultimately leading to his release on Thursday.
The dynamic wicketkeeper-batter is expected to attract substantial bids in the upcoming mega auction, which is reportedly set for late November in Saudi Arabia. Raina, a former CSK veteran, hinted at Pant’s potential move to the five-time champions, saying on JioCinema, “I met MS Dhoni in Delhi, Pant was also there. Someone will be wearing a yellow jersey soon (big smile).”
For the unaware, Pant and Dhoni share a strong bond, strengthened during Pant’s rehabilitation period after a severe car accident in December 2022. During his recovery, Pant was frequently seen with Dhoni and his family on vacations.
CSK Retained Gaikwad, Dhoni and Others
Alongside Dhoni, CSK retained Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 18 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (INR 13 crore), Shivam Dube (INR 12 crore), and Ravindra Jadeja (INR 18 crore). Dhoni, retained at INR 4 crore, was listed in the uncapped category, having played his last international match five years ago.
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While there is also a chance of Delhi retaining Pant with an RTM card, the mega-auction will be an interesting event to see as other franchises will also try to bag the southpaw given his skills and leadership abilities at his disposal.
Last Updated on November 3, 2024