The injury scare has made its way into the IPL. Among the firsts to fall is Chennai Super King’s Kyle Jamieson. Jamieson, who has been struggling with repeated back injuries, is all set to undergo surgery which will put him out of cricketing action for the next 3-4 months.
Jamieson was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for his base price of Rs. 1 crore. Even though he had a mediocre IPL season with the Royal Challengers Bangalore last season, it was expected that Jamieson would make it into CSK’s playing 11, expected to fill in the shoes of the Caribbean all-rounder Dwayne Bravo.
However, with Jamieson out of the IPL, CSK would likely be looking to replace the Kiwi all-rounder. With approximately Rs. 2.5 crores in the purse (including Jamieson’s base price of Rs. 1 crore), here are the top 3 options that the Chennai Super Kings could go for:
Chris Jordan:
Chris Jordan was already a part of the Chennai Super Kings for the 2022 season wherein he played 4 matches for the franchise, picking up two wickets at an economy rate of 10.52. However, the English all-rounder has improved a lot ever since. He was a crucial member of England’s T20 World Cup squad, and his ability to mix it at the death overs played an important role in England’s historic world cup victory. He is available at a base price of Rs. 2 crores and CSK would still be left with 50 lakhs if they replace Jamieson with him. Not only can Jordan bowl good yorkers and cutters, but he can also smash some really good hits lower down the order if it’s his day.
James Neesham:
Even though we haven’t seen much of Jimmy Neesham in the IPL, the Kiwi all-rounder has been a prominent member of his national squad. Neesham is a left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler. CSK could use him as a floater in the batting order, making full use of his big-hitting capabilities. He can also be a very handy fifth or sixth bowler for the team, depending on the pitch and the situation. Appearing for New Zealand in 60 T20 internationals, Neesham has scored 688 runs at a strike rate of 159.63 (Average: 22) and has taken 25 wickets at an economy rate of 9. At a base price of Rs. 2 crores, Neesham would probably be a decent addition to the squad.
Mujeeb Ur Rehman:
The turning track at Chepauk offers great help for the spinners. Even though the Super Kings have some decent spin bowling options in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, Mitchell Santner, and Maheesh Theekshana, it would not hurt them to add Mujeeb to their team. Even though Mujeeb last played in the IPL in 2021, wherein he was a part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad and got to play only one game, the 21-year-old mystery bowler has proved his worth for Afghanistan time and again. Mujeeb’s price is Rs. 1 crore and at that price, he is no less than a bargain. Under the guidance of Dhoni and the availability of senior players like Jadeja and Santner, Mujeeb can turn into a huge asset for the Super Kings.
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