Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has spoken highly of Chennai Super Kings ahead of their opening match in IPL 2021. Delhi Capitals with their new skipper Rishabh Pant faces MS Dhoni led CSK at Mumbai on April 10, 2021.
Ricky Ponting Praises CSK
Speaking about the team’s selection Ricky Ponting claims that CSK has a power packed squad in the IPL 2021. Dhoni led CSK failed to enter the play off for the first time in IPL history in the last year’s IPL.
MSD promises that CSK would comback with its full potential for the IPL 2021 in the last year’s post match presentation.
According to Ponting, having Suresh Raina back will be huge for the Dhoni-led side and will be like ‘a new signing’. The veteran left-handed batsman had pulled out of IPL 2020 citing personal reasons amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
“They have been one of the most successful teams in IPL history. They have obviously got a great leader and a great squad of players. They have always managed to play really consistent cricket. Last year they were probably disappointed with the way their season worked out,” Ponting said.
I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that Suresh Raina wasn’t there for the entire tournament. He comes back into the squad this year which is almost like a new signing. A great player and a very experienced player that they missed last year.”
#SuperMatch highlights! Catch all the hits, swings and spells from when the lions took on themselves! #WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/DTCd11M13N
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 7, 2021
Delhi Capitals coach Ponting believes three-time IPL champions CSK have a quite the squad for the 14th edition. While Ponting has spoken about the flexibility of CSK’s squad, he admitted that DC have no clue of who would be opening for Dhoni’s team.
“We have been looking at their squad and analysing their squad over the last week, and they have got a good squad of players together. They have got lots of flexibility. Even now, when we have talked about it for a week, and we are still not sure who’s gonna open the batting for them. So they have got lots of options. But at the same time, we have got a great squad, and we want to build on last season.” Ricky Ponting added.
New Players brought by CSK in IPL 2021 Auction
- England All-rounder Moeen Ali has been purchased for Rs. 7 Crores.
- Krishnappa Gowtham has been roped for Rs. 9.25 Crores.
- Harisankar Reddy roped for Rs. 20 Lakhs.
- Bhagvath Varma roped for Rs. 20 Lakhs.
- Cheteshwar Pujara roped for Rs. 50 Lakhs.
Players retained by CSK
MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo, Sam Curran, Josh Hazlewood, Lungi Ngidi, Ambati Rayudu, Karn Sharma, Mitchell Santner, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Imran Tahir, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, and R Sai Kishore.
Final squad of CSK for IPL 2021
MS Dhoni (C & WK), Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, KM Asif, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, N Jagadeesan, Karn Sharma, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Sam Curran, Josh Hazlewood, R Sai Kishore, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Krishnappa Gowtham, Cheteshwar Pujara, M Harisankar Reddy, K Bhagath Varma, C Hari Nishaanth.
