Suresh Raina suggests bringing back all-rounder Shardul Thakur to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2024 auction, expressing dissatisfaction with Thakur’s usage by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2023 and anticipating a better experience under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
Shardul Thakur, who had a successful stint at CSK from 2018 to 2021, winning two IPL titles, played 48 matches for the team, securing 55 wickets at an average of 27.52. His standout performance came in 2021 when he took 21 wickets, proving to be a key partnership-breaker.
Delhi Capitals (DC) acquired Shardul Thakur in the IPL 2022 auction, later trading him to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the 2023 season.
“He is very similar to Pat Cummins. He has done well in the bowling department as well as with the bat. KKR, I don’t think used him in that manner. When he played for CSK, he has done really well.”
”He brought a lot of quality with the older ball as well as the new ball. (Deepak) Chahar is a bit injury-prone, and (Matheesha) Pathirana also is. He is an all-rounder like Deepak Chahar,” Suresh Raina conveyed during Jio Cinema’s mock IPL auction on Monday.
“He (Shardul) understands the CSK administration, he understands the leadership. And MS astutely used him well. I think he is (can be) an important buy. I think, like Abhinav Mukund said, he is a very important Indian bowler. And his form will be crucial,” Raina added.
Shardul Thakur struggled to replicate his bowling success at both DC and KKR. In IPL 2022, he took 15 wickets and had a good batting season. However, in 2023, his performance declined, collecting seven wickets and scoring 113 runs in 11 matches.
Shardul Thakur has set a base price of ₹2 crore for the IPL 2024 auction
Shardul Thakur is listed among the first set of all-rounders at the IPL 2024 auction with a base price of ₹2 crore. CSK, with a substantial purse of ₹31.40 crore, has six slots to fill.
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