Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made a bid for Australian batsman Travis Head in the IPL 2024 auction, but Sunrise Hyderabad He outbid to take the first Australian cap in his team. Cricket commentator Aakash Chopra feels that Travis Head was of no use to Chennai Super Kings.
Travis Head had a base price of Rs. 2 crores in the IPL 2024 auction. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings were the two teams chasing the Australian opener. In the end, SRH sealed the left-handed batsman for Rs. 6.80 crores.
Travis Head was expected to get a huge amount in the IPL 2024 Auction after his impressive knock in the ICC World Cup 2023 final against India. The left-handed batsman smashed a century in the final to lead the Australians to a 6-wicket victory in the match.
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Travis Head was of no use to CSK: Aakash Chopra
While speaking on his YouTube channel, akash chopra said that he was surprised to see Chennai Super Kings chasing Travis Head in the IPL 2024 auction. According to Aakash Chopra, CSK opted to chase Travis Head to find Moeen Ali’s replacement. However, the Australian opener is not a comparable replacement for Moeen Ali.
“This team was going to Travis Head. We were a little surprised. They could have been trying to retain him as Moeen Ali’s replacement. If you ask me personally, it was of no use at all. He couldn’t have been a comparable replacement for Moeen Ali.
“Devon Conway opens and Travis Head also opens. Travis Head would not have scored runs as soon as you had sent him in the middle order. So it’s a good thing you didn’t catch him. Hyderabad took him and they (CSK) got Rachin Ravindra in his place for just Rs 1.80 crore,” Chopra added.
Chennai Super Kings have a powerful set of openers in the form of Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad. In the 2023 season, both showed impressive batting performances to provide a powerful start to the team in many games.
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Shardul Thakur at four crores is an absolute deal: Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra also feels that CSK made an excellent deal by picking up Shardul Thakur for Rs. 4 crores. Chopra also feels that Thakur was the only Indian pacer who did not cost expensively.
“As I said about Mumbai, I think Chennai was also lucky. Shardul Thakur at four crores is an absolute bargain. In my opinion, people should have saved 10-14 crores for the Lord, which Harshal Patel finally achieved. Only three or four international Indian fast bowlers were available.
One was Umesh Yadav, who bought Rs 5.8 crore, and then Harshal Patel became expensive. Even Shivam Mavi was expensive, but not Shardul Thakur.
He is not part of India’s T20I scheme, but when Delhi gave Rs 10.75 crore and then moved from there last year, it means the player has value,” the former India opener further said.
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Notably, Shardul Thakur He was a part of CSK’s setup for many seasons before the IPL 2022 mega auction, when Delhi Capitals picked him for Rs. 10 million rupees. In the 2023 season, DC traded Thakur to Kolkata Knight Riders. Ahead of the IPL 2024 auction, KKR released Thakur from the team.