The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction is now around the corner and the event is scheduled to take place on December 19 in Dubai. A total of 1,166 players will be up for bidding, with only 77 slots available. Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will look to strengthen their team during the mini-auction. CSK would like to make up for the loss of Ben Stokes (released) and Ambati Rayudu (retired). Former India batsman Aakash Chopra has revealed what he thinks could be CSK’s strategy going forward in the mini-auction.

Read more: WPL Auction 2024: Names of 165 Cricketers Included, 61 Foreigners and 104 Indians

IPL Auction 2024: Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell are on target to replace Ben Stokes.

“They will need an all-rounder. It could be Rachin Ravindra in place of Ben Stokes, or they can look towards Daryl Mitchell. This team may not need spinners as they have Ravindra Jadeja, Prashant Solanki, Moeen Ali, and Mitchell Santner there. Will be able to manage with what he has,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Manish Pandey or Karun Nair in place of Rayudu

“In the batting department, they may need another Indian batsman in place of Ambati Rayudu. Let’s not put it ahead of MS Dhoni. If you are unable to do something, go to him and he will get it done. So, Manish Pandey or Karun Nair, they can go to the yellow team in the auction,” he said.

Stokes had pulled out of IPL 2024 citing workload issues and as a result, CSK decided not to retain him

The England Test captain underwent successful knee surgery earlier this week and has also begun his rehab ahead of the Test tour of India starting on January 25.

Read more: These Caribbean Countries Withdrew From Hosting T20 WC 2024

CSK full squad: MS Dhoni (captain and wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dubey, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangarkar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Mathisha Pathirana. Ajinkya Rahane, Sheikh Rashid, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Mahesh Theekshana.

Full list of released players: Ben Stokes, Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Pretorius, Bhagat Verma, Subhranshu Senapathy, Sisanda Magala, Kyle Jamieson, Akash Singh.