Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are one of the most successful teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team has given many players who had their humble beginnings in the IPL and later on went on to earn huge success. Several youngsters got a chance to showcase their talent and display their skills. Every year, CSK have been brilliant in drafting quality players in the IPL auction. Some due to their deep pockets and others with well-designed plans, CSK has been able to buy the right players at the right price time with some seriously smart buys over the years.
Here, we take a look at the 5 smartest buys by Chennai Super Kings in the history of IPL.
1. Faf Du Plessis
Faf Du Plessis has been one of the most consistent performers in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings. He was roped in by CSK in 2011 for just 55.2 lakh Rs. Faf didn’t get a chance to play in that season but proved his worth whenever he got a chance to play. In 83 matches for CSK, he has scored 2408 runs at an average of over 35 and a strike rate of around 130. Ahead of the 2018 IPL, he was roped in by CSK using an RTM card for 1.6 crore Rs.
His most memorable knock came against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2018 when he solely guided CSK towards the final scoring a match-winning 67. Eventually, CSK went on to win their third title in that season. Recently, in the IPL 2021, he scored 320 runs in seven matches and was third in the race of the orange cap. He is definitely among the best buys for Chennai Sdhouper Kings.
2. Michael Hussey
Michael Hussey had been a part of the Chennai Super Kings squad from 2008-2013 and again in 2015. He was picked up CSK for a mere price of one Crore Rs. Hussey only featured in four matches in the inaugural season but made his mark scoring 168 runs which included one century. In 50 matches for CSK, he has notched 1768 runs at an average of around 40.
His best performance came in the 2013 season of the IPL when he smashed 733 runs and was the holder of the orange cap in that season. Hussey played his last match in the IPL in 2015 as he announced his retirement after that.
3. Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo, who is one of the most entertaining players was picked up by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2011 for just 92 lakh Rs. His skills were underused by his former franchise Mumbai Indians, but MS Dhoni brought the best out of him in CSK. His ability to deceive the batters with his variation added by playing crucial cameos at the death made him an asset for the men in yellow.
Bravo’s best performance came in the 2013 IPL when he picked up 32 wickets in 18 matches which is still the highest tally by a bowler in a single IPL season. His consistent performance saw him being retained by CSK for four crore Rs in 2014 and then again he was roped in by using an RTM card in 2018 for 6.4 crores.
4. Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu was one of the most consistent performers for Mumbai Indians. But, the 2018 IPL mega auction saw him being picked by Chennai Super Kings for just 2.2 crore Rs. The addition of Rayudu came as a blessing for CSK as he scored 602 runs in 16 matches at an average of 43 and a strike rate of 149.75. He was the highest run-scorer for CSK in that season turned out to be one of the top smart buys and guided them towards their third IPL title.
His experience and consistency have proved to be invaluable for the men in yellow. Over the seasons, he has been shuffled across several positions in the batting order, but still, he has managed to deliver for the team in crucial situations.
5. Deepak Chahar
Deepak Chahar has been Chennai Super Kings’ one of the smartest buys in the IPL. He was roped in by CSK for a small sum of 80 lakh Rs for the 2018 season of the IPL. Chahar created an impact from start itself picking up 10 wickets and play a crucial role in CSK’s title win in 2018. His ability to swing the ball initially and get important breakthroughs saw him becoming a regular in the CSK squad.
In 50 matches for CSK, he has picked up 52 wickets at an average of around 25 and an economy of 7.5. He turns out to be the most prominent smart buys of the all steals CSK managed to cherry-pick in the auction.
