Gautam Gambhir during an ESPNCricinfo show chose the three players that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) should retain ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2022). The IPL 2022 will see the addition of two new teams in the mix, making the Indian Premier League a ten-team event.

Chennai Super Kings have been the toast of cricket fans as they won their fourth IPL title by beating the Kolkata Knight Riders in the final of the IPL 2021 in Dubai the last night (Oct 15). Faf du Plessis shone with the bat, scoring 86 runs while Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, and Robin Uthappa all made 30-odd runs each as CSK posted 192/3 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first by Eoin Morgan who won the toss.

In reply, KKR openers Venkatesh Iyer and Shubman Gill slammed half-centuries and added 91 runs for the first wicket, but then CSK choked the KKR chase once those two were dismissed. Shardul Thakur with 3/38 and Josh Hazlewood with 2/29 was the pick of the CSK bowling unit, as KKR managed just 165/9 in 20 overs and lost the final by 27 runs.

Gautam Gambhir Leaves MS Dhoni Out Of His Three Choices Of Players CSK Must Retain Ahead Of IPL 2022

Now with the IPL 2021 done, the champions will need to rethink their strategy with a mega auction scheduled ahead of the IPL 2022 season. With two new teams coming into the fray, it is expected that the BCCI will limit the number of retentions and may scrap the right to match cards altogether to level the playing field for the new teams.

Therefore, Gautam Gambhir, on the ESPNCricinfo’s Show ‘Haan ya Na’ (Yes or No), shared the three players he chose that Chennai Super Kings must retain if allowed as per rules which will be announced later. However, one major name missing from the list was that of captain MS Dhoni, who will be 41 when the IPL 2022 comes along and his form with the bat was abysmal with him making just 114 runs in IPL 2021.

Gambhir said that CSK should retain the trio of MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Faf du Plessis for next year’s IPL. Gambhir feels the retention depends on what role Dhoni will have going forward.

“It depends on MS Dhoni, what kind of role he has to play, or will he even play, but if I will have to retain three players, it would be Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja and perhaps Faf du Plessis,” Gambhir said.

Also Read: “MS Dhoni’s Legacy Is Very Difficult To Match” – Virender Sehwag