The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League is just around the corner. The fans of all franchises are eagerly waiting for their star players to perform in this exciting tournament. The list of released and retained players has been already submitted to the management and the mini-auction is also set to happen in some days.
The focus will be on the defending champions Chennai Super Kings as they delivered outstanding performances in the IPL 2023. Their triumph over Gujarat Titans in the final was a testament to their excellence. As the upcoming season of the tournament is near the fans are once again expecting some impressive performance from the five-time champions.
Discussing the same, ex-Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan shared his perspective. Pathan delved into the possible alterations that Chennai Super Kings might consider in the forthcoming season of the tournament. He expressed that the team should explore the option of recruiting a new No. 3 batsman for the MS Dhoni-led franchise.
While talking to Star Sports, Irfan Pathan said, “Ajinkya Rahane started playing for CSK on the Wankhede pitch. That was his first game, and he did really well. After that, he kept his momentum going forward. But they are aware that he is slightly restricted when it comes to slow pitches. So they would want to have a backup for him as well.”
“You need to understand that MS Dhoni is not at his peak, and he used to bat at No. 8 regularly. Everyone wanted MS Dhoni to bat up the order, but he didn’t. Even Dhoni knows that he is not young anymore. So they definitely need a replacement for Ambati Rayudu, but they need a good No. 3 batter as well,” he added.
