The defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spent ₹4 crore on all-rounder Shardul Thakur and ₹1.8 crore on all-rounder Rachin Ravindra at the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction held in Dubai on Tuesday, December 19.
Ravindra joined the auction with a starting bid of 50 lakh. Chennai and Delhi Capitals (DC) were the first teams to enter the bidding. Punjab Kings (PBKS) entered the bidding as well, only to withdraw later. The left-handed hitter was eventually sold to CSK for 1.8 crore.
With three hundreds and two fifties in ten matches, the 24-year-old Ravindra amassed 578 runs at an average of 64.22 and a strike rate of 106.44 during his incredible 2023 ODI World Cup campaign. He scored 123* to start the World Cup against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, and he continued to build confidence after that.
The Kiwi cricket player is a valuable left-arm spinner in addition to his batting prowess. At an economy rate of 7.45 and an average of 26.92, he has claimed 41 wickets in 53 Twenty20 matches. In 18 Twenty20 Internationals, Ravindra represented New Zealand, amassing 145 runs and taking 11 wickets.
CSK welcome back Shardul Thakur in IPL 2024 auction
Following Ravindra, Chennai Super Kings paid 4 crore for Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur. He joined the auction with a starting bid of 2 crore. SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) briefly entered the auction but did not make a strong bid. Thakur became CSK’s second auction acquisition.
From 2018 until 2021, the 32-year-old was a member of the Chennai franchise. The right-arm bowler was a standout for CSK as they won the IPL in 2021. Thakur took 21 wickets in 16 games, at an average of 25.09 and an economy rate of 8.80.
The all-rounder was part of the Delhi Capitals franchise in IPL 2022 and was traded to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the 2023 season but failed to make much of an impact in both editions.
