Chennai: Chennai Super Kings captain
Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday said the franchise would be
aiming to get Ravichandran Ashwin back in the fold in the
upcoming IPL players' auction.
Ashwin is back in auction pool after CSK, back in the IPL
fold after serving suspension in the aftermath of the 2013
spot-fixing scandal, retained Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Ravindra
Jadeja. The players' auction is scheduled on January 27 and 28
in Bengaluru.
"As I have said it is always a tough call. With Ashwin,
you know we had done the same thing in the past. We will
definitely go for him (Ashwin) in the auction. Ashwin
definitely being a local lad, we want a lot of local players
to be part of CSK," Dhoni said at a promotional event for
India Cements in Chennai.
"We have two right-to-match options but having already
retained three capped Indians, don't think we can use it. We
will have to buy him out in the auction. As of now, it is
tough to say, we will get him or him or him," he added.
"Ashwin will come first in the auction for us. But we
will have to wait and watch. We will try to get him," he
added.
He also stressed on the adaptability factor at the
auction and said they would have to keep the emotions in check
while picking the squad.
"We have made three retentions. One keeper, two batsmen.
Two batsmen that can bowl. As of now it is very difficult to
say whom we will get. That is the adaptability factor that we
need at the auction table and we need to keep emotions in
check," he said.
He also thanked the fans for their support and praised
the franchise's management for backing the team.
"Our biggest strength has always been the fans. All over
wherever we have gone, CSK has got support. Even when we did
not play in the IPL in the last two years, the fan base
increased.
"There is a lot of excitement among fans about the fact
that CSK is back. The fans have over here (Chennai) have
literally adopted me, they accept me as their own. I am
touched by the admiration and ovation I receive from CSK fans,
which will always remain close to my heart," Dhoni said.
Dhoni said the focus at CSK was always on cricket and
making sure the players did well in the opportunities they
got.
"We have always made sure that players who have played
for CSK, even those who came from other franchises, for
whatever reason, have performed well," he noted.
PTI
