CSK unsure about availability of two star Indian players ahead of IPL 2022
Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to start their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on March 26. The team, led by MS Dhoni, will be facing the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their opening game at the Wankhede Stadium. Interestingly, it was the Knights, then led by Eoin Morgan, whom the Super Kings beat in last edition’s final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The Yellow Army won their fourth IPL title and are now the second-most successful team after the Mumbai Indians (MI), who have got their hands on the trophy five times under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. But with less than a fortnight remaining for the upcoming season, the Super Kings have reasons to worry about as two of their key players are unsure of taking part in the event.
CSK in with some headache ahead of IPL 2022
Two of their key players, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Chahar have sustained injuries. The Super Kings are currently awaiting official communication from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding availability of the two players.
“We are not aware of their current fitness status and won’t be able to tell you when they would join the squad,” Super Kings CEO Vishwanathan was quoted as saying by PTI.
Chahar suffered an injury on his right quadriceps during India’s third T20I against Kieron Pollard’s West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Gaikwad, on the other hand, was all set to make his debut against Dasun Shanaka’s Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series. But he sustained a hand injury and latest updates on his fitness are yet to come.
Prior to the mega auction that took place on February 12 and 13, CSK retained Gaikwad for INR 6 crores as one of their three players. The right-hander won the Orange Cap last season and also scored a century against Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Chahar, on the other hand, stayed with the franchise from 2018 to 2021 before getting released. In the mega auction in Bengaluru, CSK shelled out INR 14 crores to get back their premier fast bowler. They were involved in a bidding war with Delhi Capitals (DC), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).