The Chennai Super Kings are all set to retain their core group, including skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja for the11th edition of IPL. However, senior off-spinner R Ashwin’s chances of being picked through the ‘Right To Match’ card look bleak.
“We have not yet submitted our retention list but it goes without saying that Dhoni and Raina are all but retained. The third retention in all likelihood will be Ravindra Jadeja,” an IPL official, who is aware about CSK’s team strategy said.
The official also revealed that the CSK management was still undecided on whether to go for Ashwin, who is no longer in the Indian team management’s radar as far as limited overs cricket is concerned. Ashwin has not played a T20 for over a year now and it remains to be seen if the franchise is ready to invest on a player, who is no longer a force to reckon with in the shortest format of the game. The only factor that might encourage CSK to bid and go for the Right To Match (RTM) is the local connection, with Ashwin being the most successful international cricketer from Tamil Nadu. The emergence of all-rounder Washington Sundar, as a potent off-spinner during last season’s IPL is also a threat to Ashwin’s chances of returning to the CSK fold.
