The joint most successful IPL franchise, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has won five Indian Premier League (IPL) titles. The Yellow Brigade has always maintained perfect harmony among its local and overseas players, which has been one reason for its success.
As the 2024 IPL auction concluded in Dubai last December, CSK’s careful selection of their overseas players was again evident. In this blog, we will delve into the details of these players, giving you a closer look at what to expect from CSK in the upcoming season.
Comprehensive List of CSK Overseas Players
CSK has completed their overseas players quota in the IPL 2024 auction after signing Daryl Mitchell, Mustafizur Rahman, and Rachin Ravindra. Here’s the complete list of CSK overseas players in the IPL 2024 season:
- Devon Conway
- Moeen Ali
- Daryl Mitchell
- Mitchell Santner
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Matheesha Pathirana
- Rachin Ravindra
- Mustafizur Rahman
We look at each of the CSK overseas players closely:
Devon Conway:
Conway was the leading batter for CSK in 2023. He played 16 games, accounting for 672 runs at an astounding average of 51. It was miles ahead of his run tally of 252 runs in 2022, which shows that he is just getting started.
A massive player of pace bowling, Conway looks pleasing to the eyes but never compromises on the run rate. However, CSK is set to miss the service of their overseas opening batter after Conway suffered a thumb injury in the T20I series against Australia. He is likely to miss the first half of the IPL 2024 season.
Moeen Ali:
With CSK since 2021, he was retained even in the 2022 mega IPL auction, where he was paid ₹8 crore. A handy middle-order batter, Ali can bowl four overs of spin, which can be very effective on Indian pitches, especially on the slow surface at Chepauk.
Moeen, the first Englishman to win the IPL, scored 357 and 244 runs in 2021 and 2022, respectively. But he struggled with the bat last season, scoring just 124 runs in 15 matches. Although numbers don’t speak for his supremacy, an all-rounder like him usually makes a silent impact.
Mitchell Santner:
A casual look at Mitchell Santner’s stats doesn’t give you a fair idea of his match-winning abilities. Having joined CSK in 2018 for ₹50 lakhs, Santner debuted for CSK in 2019 and has been retained ever since.
He has always acted as a perfect foil to the main CSK spinners. On slower tracks in Chennai, Santner can turn the ball and create breakthroughs against the run of play.
Maheesh Theekshana:
Maheesh Theekshaha, the unorthodox spinner from Sri Lanka, was bought by CSK for ₹70 lakhs in the 2022 mega auction. He made an instant impact as he picked up 12 wickets in nine games. In 2023, he played 13 games and picked up 11 wickets.
Unlike Moeen, Theekshana bowls flat and fast, which can cause batters a lot of trouble. In 2024, he is expected to play a crucial role for the five-time IPL winners.
Matheesha Pathirana:
Popularly known as Baby Malinga, Matheesha Pathirana is one of the exciting overseas players. As soon as he landed at the franchise, skipper MS Dhoni took him under his wings, playing two games in the 2022 season.
The Sri Lankan pacer returned in 2023 and played 12 games. He picked up 19 wickets with a personal best of 3/15. The youngster is expected to play a massive role for the Chennai-based franchise this season.
Mustafizur Rahman:
Known to bowl the perfect leg cutter, Mustafizur Rahman was bought for ₹2 crore by CSK in the 2024 auction. The Bangladesh left-arm pacer debuted in IPL in 2016 for Sunrisers Hyderabad and clinched the Emerging Player award in the maiden season.
He has since represented Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and Delhi Capitals. In 48 games, Mustafizur has 47 wickets at an economy rate of 7.93, with a personal best of 3/16.
Daryl Mitchell:
Often struggling to get going at IPL, Mitchell, who has played two games in IPL 2022, finally made it big when he was bought for a whopping ₹14 crore, making him one of the most expensive overseas players of CSK.
Mitchell was in sublime form with the bat in the lead-up to the auction, and his all-round skills only added to the repertoire. One of the middle-order mainstays of the Kiwi national team, Mitchell can be excellent with his medium pace on the slower tracks of Chepauk.
Rachin Ravindra:
Rachin Ravindra was a popular name at the IPL 2024 auction after his splendid performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup. He set himself a base price of ₹50 lakhs, and CSK snapped him up for ₹1.8 crore.
Rachin is expected to deliver the goods in Indian conditions, where he proved his capabilities in the World Cup. With Conway sidelined with a thumb injury, the young all-rounder could feature regularly for CSK this season.
FAQs about CSK Overseas Players in IPL 2024
Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Matheesha Pathirana, Mitchell Santner, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, and Mustafizur Rahman are CSK’s overseas players in the IPL 2024 season.
Daryl Mitchell, who was paid ₹14 crore, is the most expensive overseas player at CSK.
After a splendid 2023 season, Devon Conway has become the most popular overseas player in the CSK squad.