CSK Conducting Trials In Chennai Ahead Of IPL Mini Auction, MS Dhoni Closely Involved

Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings have started gearing up for the IPL mini auctions with a five-day trial camp being held at their High Performance Center. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming and fielding coach Rajiv Kumar in attendance.

According to a report in The Indian Express, between 40-50 players are part of the camp with former CSK captain MS Dhoni closely involved in the proceedings.

Majority of the players at the trials are batters with CSK looking to address their batting issues after an IPL season that saw them finish at the bottom of the standings. For two straight seasons now, CSK have failed to qualify for the playoffs.

The daily further reports that the franchise is also interested in an India batter who has fallen down in the pecking

order but it’s not clear whether he attended the trials which will conclude on Saturday.

Samson To Join CSK?

Earlier this year, there were reports of Sanju Samson leaving Rajasthan Royals and being traded to CSK. While neither of the two franchises has made an official comment on the rumour, the publication reports that it’s a deal that may not happen with the wicketkeeper-batter expected to enter the auction pool.

Legendary India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, who has represented both CSK and RR, feels that the transfer won’t work. “Why the CSK-RR trade won’t work is because if Sanju is traded to CSK, and RR then try to trade with other teams, they’re unlikely to get valuable players in return,” Ashwin had said on his YouTube channel.

“CSK generally don’t believe in trading. They aren’t going to trade players like Ravindra Jadeja or Shivam Dube. So, in all likelihood, Sanju coming to CSK is bleak, for the reasons I’ve explained. RR don’t have much to gain from this kind of trade,” he added.

Samson first signed for RR in 2013 before joining Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) for a couple of seasons. He returned to RR in 2018 before being elevated as their captain in 2021.

Under Samson’s captaincy, RR reached the final in 2022 – their first since the inaugural season in 2008 when they became the champions.