Chennai Super Kings (CSK) must release MS Dhoni, says Aakash Chopra

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Cricinfo

Former India opener and now a famous commentator Aakash Chopra has challenged the second most famous and successful franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), to release their biggest player and team’s captain MS Dhoni ahead of the mega auction. 

The IPL is set to have a mega auction sometime soon as the new year’s edition—that is the 14th edition in 2021—is expected to be held in India next year. The 13th edition of the world’s biggest franchise-based T20 league was recently concluded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), wherein the Mumbai Indians successfully defended their title. 

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who have won the IPL title thrice under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, had a horrible run as they finished second last in the points table and failed to make it to the IPL 2020 playoffs for the first time ever. Dhoni’s team, which is known to be the one that instils fear inside the minds of the opponents, was horrible on many fronts and failed to live up to the expectations. 

Dhoni himself was off the mark with both the bat and his captaincy, as the others around him struggled for form as well as momentum. CSK did win the last three matches of IPL 2020, but they face an uphill task to rebuild their side with the next IPL only a few months away. 

Chopra, in his remarks on one of IPL’s most remarkable team, has challenged them to do the unthinkable now.

“If Dhoni does not stay with you for three years and he plays just the 2021 season, you will get the Rs 15 crore back for the 2022 edition, but how will you find a player worth that Rs 15 crore? That’s the advantage of a mega auction, you can create a big team if you have the money.”