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Irfan Pathan, the former Indian pacer, has emphasized a potential game-changing addition for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
CSK’s dominance in IPL history: A five-time champion
CSK, a five-time IPL champion, shares the record with Mumbai Indians (MI). Their most recent triumph was in IPL 2023, marked by a thrilling final against then-defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT), where CSK secured victory on the last ball, making it one of the most memorable games in IPL history. With a formidable squad and a purse of INR 31.40 crore, CSK will aim to maintain its dominance in the upcoming edition
Strengths and challenges in CSK’s squad ahead of IPL 2024 auction
Despite possessing a formidable Indian batting core, featuring Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Devon Conway, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, who collectively share run-scoring responsibilities, CSK’s bowling department faces challenges. While Tushar Deshpande emerged as a leading wicket-taker, his high expense raises concerns. Matheesha Pathirana, likened to CSK’s version of Lasith Malinga, has struggled with form in recent months.
Also READ: 6 players Chennai Super Kings (CSK) could target in IPL 2024 auction
Irfan Pathan’s recommendation
Now Pathan, speaking to Star Sports, has specifically recommended Indian pacer Harshal Patel for CSK. Despite Harshal’s commendable performances for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the last two seasons, where he secured 33 wickets in 28 matches, RCB released him ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. Pathan believed that Harshal, known for his effectiveness in the death overs, could be a valuable addition to CSK’s bowling arsenal, providing the necessary skills to address their bowling challenges.
“They have a lot of fast bowlers who can get injured regularly, guys like Deepak Chahar. They keep a lot of faith in Deepak Chahar but if he is not fit and available, they can be in a mess. So what they need – maybe a guy like Harshal Patel. Bangalore is not far from there, so just get Harshal Patel with a small ride of five hours, and just get him in CSK,” Pathan said.
