Aakash Chopra said that Chennai Super Kings were not bogged down by emotion at the IPL 2022 retentions ahead of the mega auction. CSK retained MS Dhoni (12cr), Ravindra Jadeja (16 cr), Ruturaj Gaikwad (8cr) and Moeen Ali (6 Cr). In the process, they also invested 42 crores in the players and have a remaining purse of 48 crores. 

While reflecting on CSK’s retentions in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra highlighted that some of the franchise’s star performers could not be retained. 

The SU4ER KINGS 💛#YelloveAgain #WhistlePodu 🦁 pic.twitter.com/esmttRf48c

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) November 30, 2021

“Faf du Plessis, Sam Curran, Josh Hazlewood, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur and Chinna Thala (Suresh Raina) are not there. At one time, Chennai and Suresh Raina were hand in hand, no longer. Emotions have become slightly excess baggage when it comes to the IPL.”

He further said that the retentions were as per his expectations. 

“CSK had to keep Dhoni with them and they have done that. Along with him are Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad – so they have retained three Indians. The one overseas player is Moeen Ali, we had discussed that these could be the four names.”

Aakash Chopra Reacts To MI, CSK Retentions

Next, speaking about the retentions by Mumbai Indians, he said that the franchise could have been more thoughtful. The five-time IPL champions retained skipper Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav and Kieron Pollard. They also invested 42 crores and have a remaining purse of 48 crores for the mega auctions.

“Jasprit Bumrah – natural choice, Rohit Sharma – natural choice. After that – Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Ishan Kishan – there would have been a lot of discussions on that. I had said that Suryakumar Yadav will be my choice and fortunately, it is their choice as well.”

Paltan, hear what Captain ℝ𝕠 had to say on the retention process and its challenges! 🗣️💙#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #IPLretention #KhelTakaTak @ImRo45 @mxtakatak MI TV pic.twitter.com/ddbbtSxC8R

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) November 30, 2021

He concluded by saying that a few big players which Mumbai released will be on the radar of other franchises. 

“Suryakumar Yadav has been retained and Kieron Pollard is still there. The big absentees, which will be interesting when they go to the IPL auction, are Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Trent Boult and Quinton de Kock. It is being heard that the Ahmedabad franchise is very interested in taking the Pandya brothers.”

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