Aakash Chopra holds the view that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) failing to purchase Travis Head in the IPL 2024 auction might actually turn out to be a fortunate one. We all witnessed how Travis Head created an impact in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Despite their initial interest, CSK lost the bidding war to the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), who successfully acquired the powerful Australian opener for ₹6.80 crore. Eventually, the defending champions opted for an alternate strategy, investing a combined ₹5.80 crore to secure the services of Rachin Ravindra and Shardul Thakur as their first two picks during the auction.
Travis Head wasn’t of any use- Aakash Chopra
Expressing his perspective in a video posted on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra shared the belief that the Chennai Super Kings’ failure to secure Travis Head could be viewed as a positive turn of events for the team. He elaborated on his point, stating:
“This team was going towards Travis Head. We were slightly surprised. They might have been trying to keep him as Moeen Ali’s replacement (backup). If you ask me personally, he wasn’t of any use. He couldn’t have been a like-for-like replacement for Moeen Ali.”
Manjrekar added,
“Devon Conway opens, and Travis Head also opens. Travis Head wouldn’t have scored runs as soon as you would have sent him in the middle order. So it’s good you didn’t get him. Hyderabad took him and they (CSK) got Rachin Ravindra in place of him for just 1.80 crores.”
Chopra said that Rachin Ravindra serves as a reliable backup for Devon Conway. He went on to mention that on spin-friendly surfaces, the five-time champions could potentially exclude Mitchell Santner from the playing XI by opting for Ravindra in place of Conway.
People should have saved 10-14 crores for the Lord- Aakash Chopra on Shardul Thakur going for just 4crores
Aakash Chopra expressed the belief that the Chennai Super Kings were fortunate to secure Shardul Thakur at a relatively affordable price during the auction. He provided further insight, stating:
“As I said about Mumbai, Chennai also I think got lucky. Shardul Thakur in four crores is an absolute steal. In my opinion, people should have saved 10-14 crores for the Lord, which Harshal Patel eventually got. Only three or four capped Indian fast bowlers were available,”
Shardul Thakur has a value in IPL- Aakash Chopra
The former cricketer also highlighted Shardul Thakur’s value in the league, pointing out that the seam-bowling all-rounder’s significant ₹10.75 crore purchase by the Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2022 auction, followed by his trade to the Kolkata Knight Riders. Chopra remarked:
“One was Umesh Yadav, who went for 5.80 crores, and then Harshal Patel went expensive. Even Shivam Mavi went expensive but Shardul Thakur didn’t. He is not a part of India’s T20I scheme of things, but when 10.75 crore rupees were given by Delhi and then he shifted from there last year, it means the player has value,”
In the IPL 2023 season, Shardul Thakur faced challenges with injuries, managing to secure only seven wickets while bowling 21 overs across 11 games, with an economy rate of 10.48. Throughout his IPL career, spanning 86 games, Thakur has accounted for 89 dismissals, maintaining a decent economy rate of 9.16.