On one hand, we have the five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians, while on the other, Chennai Super Kings, also five-time champions, are known for their player management skills. For CSK, IPL 2024 turned out to be a mixed outing. Initially, the team struggled with consistency under their new captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad. With 7 wins and 7 losses, the team finished 5th, coming close to reaching the playoffs but unfortunately failing to break into the top 4.
Now, with the IPL 2025 auction in focus, many changes are expected. However, the team needs to retain a few key players, and with the Right to Match (RTM) expected to be in play, let’s take a look at the candidates CSK may retain via RTM, and one of these could be retained using this card.
RTM card targets for CSK in IPL 2025 mega auction
Deepak Chahar
Eight games, five wickets, and an average of 40 in the last season, but there is still a chance that CSK may give this superstar another opportunity. Deepak Chahar, known for his swinging deliveries and attacking length, could be one player CSK considers. With Chahar, two outcomes seem likely: either they release him, or they give him one more chance via RTM. It will be interesting to see how things unfold for him and what CSK decides to do with Deepak Chahar in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Shivam Dube
Another potential RTM target for CSK could be Shivam Dube, with his all-round abilities, especially his batting, which became a major talking point last season. His performance was the main reason he earned a spot in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. In 14 games last IPL season, he scored 396 runs in the middle order with an impressive strike rate. There’s no doubt that he could be one player CSK might not retain immediately, but they could put him under the hammer and bring him back via RTM.
Shardul Thakur
The two candidates mentioned earlier look strong, but Shardul Thakur‘s name could also go under the hammer. His IPL 2024 season wasn’t particularly memorable, with just 9 games and 5 wickets, Thakur is known for breaking crucial partnerships and chipping in with runs lower down the order. He has been a valuable part of CSK for many years.
CSK might consider releasing him, but the situation could be similar to that of Deepak Chahar. They could release him and put him under the hammer. With retention rules allowing up to 3 players and 1 via RTM, the chances of Thakur being retained via Right to Match look strong.
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