IPL 2024: MS Dhoni Likely To Join CSK’s Pre-Season Camp Next Week As Defending Champions Kick-Start Preparations
New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni is expected to join the pre-season training camp next week as the rest of the squad (excluding overseas stars) kick-started preparations on Saturday for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dhoni, under whom CSK won their fifth IPL title last year, is currently in Jamnagar in Gujarat, attending the pre-wedding activities of Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant and Radhika Merchant. The three-day event started on March 1 and will end on March 3, which also saw several other cricketing icons attending the gala event.
“The first batch of local (Indian) players arrived on Friday and more are expected to arrive in the coming days,” a Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) official told PTI. Among those who have arrived are Simarjeet Singh, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, Ajay Mandal, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Chahar.
Notably, Chahar hogged the limelight in the first day at practice as the pacer is aiming for an India return through this IPL. The Rajasthan pacer has not played any form of competitive cricket since December last when he pulled out of the home T20I series against Australia due to his father’s illness.
He also skipped the tour of South Africa due to the same, before taking a fully fit certificate from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) last month. Meanwehile, Dhoni, who had undergone a knee surgery immediately after IPL 2023, looked in shape in Jamnagar.
Clad in a maroon t-shirt and black jeans, Dhoni looked as stylish as ever. As far as their IPL 2024 is concerned, CSK bought six players with New Zealand duo of Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell being the star attractions. They have also secured the services of all-rounder Shardul Thakur and spent a whopping Rs. 8.40 crore for uncapped batter Sameer Rizvi from Uttar Pradesh.
Players CSK Bought At IPL 2024 Auction: Rachin Ravindra (Rs. 1.8 crore), Shardul Thakur (Rs. 4 crore), Daryl Mitchell (Rs. 14 crore), Sameer Rizvi (Rs. 8.40 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (Rs. 2 crore), Avanish Rao Aravelly (Rs. 20 lakh).
CSK’s Full Squad For IPL 2024
Wicketkeepers: MS Dhoni, Devon Conway, Avanish Rao Aravelly.
Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shaik Rasheed, Ajinkya Rahane, Sameer Rizvi.
All-Rounders: Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Ajay Mandal, Nishant Sindhu, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Shardul Thakur.
Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Mustafizur Rahman, Mukesh Choudhary.