IPL Auction Action: Chennai Super Kings to target Tamil Nadu players? Local may be CSK's strategy

New Delhi: Back in 2008, when most of the teams were looking for “icon players” ahead of the first-ever IPL auction, Chennai Super Kings were focussed on mathematics. Instead of shedding the extra bucks on “icon players”, the management was keen on getting MS Dhoni at any cost. There was a battle with Mumbai Indians on the table but Mumbai’s decision to rope in Sachin Tendulkar as the “icon player” didn’t allow them the purse to go all-out for the Indian skipper.

The Rs 6 crore bid by CSK for Dhoni was the biggest of the auction and the journey of Mahi from Ranchi to Thala of Chennai began. While most teams wanted to have that home connect in place with their “icon players”, CSK went Dhoni’s way as the wicketkeeper-batsman was in the market as his home state didn’t have an IPL team. Virender Sehwag went to Delhi Daredevils, Yuvraj Singh to Kings XI Punjab, Rahul Dravid to Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sachin Tendulkar to Mumbai Indians.

When you realise #SuperAuction is just 4 days away