The IPL 2024 Auction concluded recently in Dubai on December 19th, saw as many as 10 franchises going loggerheads with each others resulting into record buys in the auction. Many teams including the title defenders Chennai Super Kings(CSK) opted for some smart buys in the form of New Zealand all rounder Daryl Mitchell alongside some great steals in form of another New Zealand star Rachin Ravindra in pursuit of their goal to maintain the legacy of the team over the future too.
Knowing the need for backups in absence of retired players and the current crop who will retire anytime soon, Chennai Super Kings franchise owners clearly blended to the likes of the management led by New Zealander Stephen Fleming by selecting players who fits the goal of the team that the role of reach member in the squad should be defined.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bought in New Zealander all rounder Daryl Mitchell for a whopping 14 crores INR. An utility all rounder from New Zealand Daryl Mitchell perfectly fit the likes of retired Ambati Rayudu and the released option Ben Stokes. Wat stood in the favor of this New Zealander was the form he showed in the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2023 on the Indian shores scoring 2 Hundreds against the Indian bowling attack which looked fearsome in the whole tournament.
The aggressive approach of Mitchell propels many experts to believe that he would be a perfect replacement to recently released Ben Stokes and could add value to the vacant middle order after retirement of Ambati Rayudu who use to play pace and spin aggressively. His medium pace bowling could be an added advantage for the Chennai team if the situation demands so. Also in selecting Rachin Ravindra Chennai has set a perfect backup for Moeen Ali thus covering all their bases for the title defence.
Daryl Mitchell can be a proper replacement for Moeen Ali- Aakash Chopra
The prowess of Daryl Mitchell and his ability to play the situation well in sub continental conditions has raised the eyeballs and has been earning praises by many cricketing experts. Ex cricketer now commentator and cricket expert Aakash Chopra reckons Daryl Mitchell is an ideal acquisition for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a destructive middle-order batter. The Chennai-based franchise spent a whopping ₹14 crore to acquire the New Zealand all-rounder’s services at the IPL 2024 auction.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that the Chennai Super Kings could prefer Mitchell over Moeen Ali as an attacking overseas middle-order batter. He elaborated (2:45):
“When you get two players (Rachin Ravindra and Shardul Thakur) very cheaply, you have options. You can do whatever you want. So they spent 14 crore rupees for Daryl Mitchell. Daryl Mitchell is a serious player. I had thought he would go for 8-10 crores but he went for 14,”
The former India opener further added:
“He can be a proper replacement (for Moeen Ali). If you need an aggressive overseas batter in the middle-order, he could be that guy, because Moeen Ali’s stocks are going slightly down. He didn’t do anything with the bat last year as well, and the captain doesn’t get him to bowl quite a few times,”
Aakash Chopra also emphasized on the fact that Daryl Mitchell could do multiple jobs for CSK. He pointed out that the Kiwi right-hander is an aggressive player against spin and could perform Ambati Rayudu’s role.
We all felt they would go for an out-and-out pacer – Aakash Chopra on CSK’s acquisition of Mustafizur Rahman
Aakash Chopra going further also expressed his views on the acquisition of Left arm quick Mustafizur Rahman, whom the franchise bought in for mere 2 crores INR. Aakash Chopra pointed out that Mustafizur Rahman’s acquisition gives the Chennai Super Kings an additional overseas bowling option.
“So Devon Conway at the top, Daryl Mitchell in the middle, and then they could either play Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana, or else they have taken Mustafizur Rahman as well. We all felt they would go for an out-and-out pacer.” he added
While observing that CSK do not have an express pacer, the reputed commentator added that they have a plethora of seam-bowling options for their home conditions. He elaborated:
“They said we all don’t know anything and that they have Deepak Chahar, Mukesh Choudhary, Tushar Deshpande, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Simarjeet Singh and have now kept Shardul Thakur and Mustafizur as well. So plenty of options are available, keeping the Chennai pitch in mind,” he added.
He concluded by emphasizing that CSK’s acquisition of Sameer Rizvi for ₹8.40 crore was the biggest surprise. He added that the Uttar Pradesh batter would be delighted about playing for the MS Dhoni-led outfit, highlighting they are one of the two best franchises for youngsters, with the Mumbai Indians being the other.
It would be now interesting to see how the master tactician MS Dhoni uses his newly acquired troops with the blend of retained ones to create a squad in defence of their title this IPL season.