Picture Credit: IPL/StarSports
Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend, Suresh Raina threw light on the five-time winners campaign in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The former cricketer, who is currently working with Star Sports in their expert commentary panel, admitted that he has never seen the Yellow Army struggle like they have been this season.
Speaking during defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) match against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Eden Gardens on Monday, April 21, remarked, “Mujhe lagta hai kahin na kahin inse (CSK) auction acha nahi hua hai. Auction main itne talented players, itne youngsters the. Kaha hai woh players? (I think, from the coach and the management, the auction has not gone well this year. There were so many youngsters, talented players in the auction, where are they?)”
“Aap itna paisa leke jaate ho auction ke liye. Aapne Rishabh Pant ko chhoda, Shreyas Iyer ko chhoda, KL Rahul ko chhoda. CSK team ko kabhi aise nahi dekha struggle karte hue (You went to the auction with so much money but left Pant, Iyer, and Rahul. I have never seen CSK struggle like this),” Raina added, while commentating during the game.
Talent pool ko jo hunt karte hai unko bhi bitha ke puchhna chahiye: Harbhajan Singh
While Raina wasn’t the only one who spoke of it as he was joined by his former teammate and MI legend Harbhajan Singh, who opted to hit back at the talent scout. Speaking alongside Raina while commentating in the KKR vs GT match, Bhajji said, “CSK bohot badi team rahi hai. Jab yeh auction main gaye, inke paas woh option tha unn players ko le sakte the. Yuvaon main bhi waise yuva dikhe nahi jo game-changing wali innings khel sake. (CSK is a big team. They had the options to pick those players in the auction. Even among the youngsters, they did not turn out to be game-changers.)”
He further added, “Thoda sa jo inke talent pool ko jo hunt karte hai unko bhi bitha ke puchhna chahiye ki bhai kya apne hume information di thi jiske chalte humne yeh logon ko select kiya tha (The talent scouts should be questioned about their preferences, because the selection was based on that).”
Under MS Dhoni’s leadership, the CSK will aim to get back in the season with only a few matches left for them in the league stage. In their next clash, they will return home to face the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, April 25.
