IPL 2023 Retention: Pragyan Ojha reveals why Chennai Super Kings will look for a long term captaincy solution

MS
Dhoni-led
Chennai
Super
Kings
didn’t
surprise
by
the
choice
of
players
they
released
and
retained
ahead
of
the
IPL
2023
auction.
While
they
did
drop
Dwayne
Bravo
–
who
has
been
a
key
player
for
them
in
the
past
–
but
it
was
on
expected
lines
as
the
senior
West
Indies
all-rounder’s
exploits
in
the
T20
format
have
dwindled.

However,
the
decision
to
let
go
of
the
rest
of
the
players
seemed
like
a
tactical
move
for
they
will
be
returning
to
their
home
ground
at
Chepauk
next
year.
The
decision
will
help
CSK
rope-in
some
quality
spinners
and
someone
who
could
be
a
captaincy
option
for
them
in
the
years
to
come.

Former
India
spinner
Pragyan
Ojha
believes
the
four-time
IPL
champion
side
will
certainly
start
looking
for
MS
Dhoni’s
successor
if
the
legendary
India
cricketer
decides
to
hang
up
his
boots
after
next
season.
Ojha
even
hailed
CSK
as
a
team
which
will
look
for
a
long-term
captaincy
option
because
the
franchise
works
like
a
blue-chip
team.

Speaking
on
JioCinema,
Ojha
spoke
about
CSK’s
future
and
said,
“Till
the
time
MS
Dhoni
is
playing,
there
can’t
be
a
different
captain.
It
became
all
the
clear
last
year.
Having
said
that,
had
you
asked
me
a
year
earlier,
I
would
have
thought,
maybe
Kane
Williamson
but
whatever
I
know
of
CSK,
if
this
is
MS
Dhoni’s
last
year,
they
would
want
to
pass
on
the
captaincy
to
an
individual
who
can
do
the
role
for
the
next
5-6
years
and
brings
stability
to
the
team.
CSK
is
one
such
team
which
does
not
believe
in
a
lot
of
changes
and
hence
would
look
for
a
long-term
captain.
CSK
is
like
a
blue-chip
team
and
not
like
a
day
trading
one.”

Apart
from
CSK,
five-time
IPL
champions,
Mumbai
Indians,
will
be
without
the
services
of
senior
Werst
Indies
all-rounder
Kieron
Pollard.
Pollard
has
retired
from
IPL
and
will
be
donning
the
batting
coach’s
hat
for
MI
from
the
next
season.

Speaking
about
Pollard’s
retirement
India
cricketer
Hanuma
Vihari
termed
it
a
big
loss
for
the
MI
for
the
35-year-old
has
won
them
many
times.

“It
is
a
big
loss
for
them(Mumbai
Indians).
These
are
big
shoes
to
fill,
a
player
of
the
stature
of
Kieron
Pollard.
You
can’t
really
replace
the
legend
he
is,
in
the
T20
format.
The
services
he
has
done
for
Mumbai
Indians,
not
just
as
a
finisher,
but
as
a
fielder
and
as
a
leader
as
well.

“Five
titles
with
a
single
team
and
he
has
played
for
one
team
throughout
his
career.
So
that
shows
the
love
he
had
for
Mumbai
and
what
Mumbai
meant
to
him.
I
think
it
is
going
to
be
a
big
task
to
replace
him.
One
good
thing
is
that
he
is
still
in
the
dugout
giving
his
guidance,”
Vihari
added
further.

Vihari,
however,
commended
MI
for
investing
in
and
grooming
Australia
all-rounder
Tim
David
who
he
believes
could
be
the
perfect
substitute
for
Pollard.
“One
thing
Mumbai
Indians
were
quite
smart
about
last
year
was
that
they
picked
Tim
David
as
a
future
replacement
for
Kieron
Pollard.
I
feel
this
year
Tim
David
could
step
up
and
do
the
role
which
Kieron
Pollard
was
doing,”
Vihari
added
further.