Rishabh Pant to Chennai? CSK CEO responds to IPL 2025 Auction rumours

Rishabh Pant has been linked with a move to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. With Delhi Capitals (DC) not retaining Pant, he has become one of the most sought-after players in the upcoming auction. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan recently addressed these rumours, providing insights into the franchise’s strategy.

Rishabh Pant for CSK?

Rishabh Pant has been a key player for DC for the past nine years, but his departure opens up opportunities for other franchises to acquire his services. With CSK looking to build a strong team for the upcoming season, Pant’s name has been frequently mentioned as a potential replacement for the legendary MS Dhoni.

CSK’s Strategy

Viswanathan revealed that CSK had extensive discussions with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dhoni, and coach Stephen Fleming about the players they wanted to retain and those they aimed to acquire. The consensus was to focus on retaining players who have contributed to the team’s stability and growth over the years.

CSK has retained key players such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, and MS Dhoni as uncapped players. This decision leaves CSK with a purse of 55 crore rupees for the auction.

“We had discussions with Ruturaj, the captain, MS (Dhoni) and coach Stephen Fleming before we decided on the retentions. We were very clear that the players that helped the team grow, and stabilise in the previous years were the ones very important for the CSK team to continue further,” Viswanathan said.

Viswanathan acknowledged that competing for top Indian players like Pant could be challenging due to the limited purse. Despite this, CSK remains optimistic about its chances and is open to exploring all options. Pant, with a base price of 2 crores, is among the high-profile Indian players registered for the auction.

“We knew that if we retained these players, we would have a lesser purse to go into the auction. We knew that we wouldn’t be able to compete with the other teams when it comes to the best of the Indian players. I mean, we will still try, but I don’t think we’ll be able to get them at the auction,” he added.

The IPL 2025 auction promises to be an exciting event, with franchises vying for top talent to strengthen their squads. CSK’s approach of retaining core players while exploring new additions reflects their commitment to maintaining a competitive team. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if Pant dons the yellow jersey for CSK in the upcoming season.

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