Two-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have picked 25 players for this year's Indian Premier League (IPL). They are returning to the Twenty20 tournament after serving a two-year suspension due to corruption.
IPL Squads: RCB | SRH | KXIP | KKR | DD | RR | MI
Before the players auction, CSK retained three cricketers. At the auction in Bengaluru on January 27 and 28, they bought 22 players.
Also read: Ben Stokes tops at auction
Expectations are high among fans as they want CSK to display their old game in IPL 2018. However, their supporters have also been critical of the squad assembled for the 11th edition. Some called it a bunch of "old players" aged above 30.
Just listened to the #LungiDance song loving it already ❤?
— Lungi Ngidi (@NgidiLungi) January 28, 2018
MS Dhoni is all set to lead CSK again. He has been the most successful captain in the history of IPL. He and Suresh Raina have been reunited after two years. Last two editions, Dhoni played for Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) while Raina was signed up by Gujarat Lions (GL).
The official twitter page of CSK tweeted saying the squad is "Pride of 18". "
CSK wrote, "Dear Super Fans, thank you for all the patience, prayers, roars and whistles in the past two days! Just like all our matches, it was a nail-biting finish. Presenting the #PrideOf18. Here's wishing them a roaring summer ahead! #NewTeamSamePride #WhistlePodu #SummerIsComing."
Full list of players sold at auction
Here is the complete squad of CSK for IPL 2018
Total squad members - 25; Batsmen - 3; Bowlers - 9; Wicketkeepers - 4; All-rounders - 9; Overseas players - 8
Players retained - 3; Players bought at auction - 22
Costliest player - MS Dhoni (Rs 15 crore). Top buy at auction - Kedar Jadhav - Rs 7.8 crore
Money spent - Rs 73.5 crore. Funds remaining - Rs 6.5 crore
- MS Dhoni (Wicketkeeper-batsman) Captain - Rs 15 cr (Retained)
- Suresh Raina (Batsman) - Rs 11 cr (Retained)
- Ravindra Jadeja (All-rounder) - Rs 7 cr (Retained)
- Kedar Jadhav (All-rounder) - Rs 7.8 cr
- Dwayne Bravo (All-rounder) (West Indies) - Rs 6.4 cr - Overseas
- Karn Sharma (Legspinner) - Rs 5 cr
- Shane Watson (All-rounder) (Australia) - Rs 4 cr - Overseas
- Shardul Thakur (Fast bowler) - Rs 2.6 cr
- Ambati Rayudu (Wicketkeeper) - Rs 2.2 cr
- Murali Vijay (Batsman) - Rs 2 cr
- Harbhajan Singh (Offspinner) - Rs 2 cr
- Faf du Plessis (Batsman) (South Africa) - Rs 1.6 cr - Overseas
- Mark Wood (Fast bowler) (England) - Rs 1.5 cr - Overseas
- Sam Billings (Wicketkeeper) (England) - Rs 1 cr - Overseas
- Imran Tahir (Legspinner) (South Africa) - Rs 1 cr - Overseas
- Deepak Chahar (Fast bowler) - Rs 80 lakh
- Mitchell Santner (All-rounder) (New Zealand) - Rs 50 lakh - Overseas
- Lungisani Ngidi (Fast bowler) (South Africa) - Rs 50 lakh - Overseas
- KM Asif (Fast bowler) - Rs 40 lakh
- N Jagadeesan (Wicketkeeper) - Rs 20 lakh
- Kanishk Seth (All-rounder) - Rs 20 lakh
- Monu Singh (Fast bowler) - Rs 20 lakh
- Dhruv Shorey (All-rounder) - Rs 20 lakh
- Kshitiz Sharma (All-rounder) - Rs 20 lakh
- Chaitanya Bishnoi (All-rounder) - Rs 20 lakh
Dear Super Fans, thank you for all the patience, prayers, roars and whistles in the past two days! Just like all our matches, it was a nail-biting finish. Presenting the #PrideOf18. Here's wishing them a roaring summer ahead!??? #NewTeamSamePride #WhistlePodu #SummerIsComing pic.twitter.com/zqTXa3ZFTm
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) January 28, 2018