India Great Tells CSK To Release 5 Players, But Keep Hold Of 1 "Match-Winner", As Trade Window Heats Up

Chennai Super Kings are reportedly eyeing up more trades for IPL 2027© AFP

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) completed a four-player trade deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) just a few days ago, but according to multiple reports, their work in the trade window isn't quite done. In recent days, the five-time IPL champions have been linked with Delhi Capitals' (DC) star India all-rounder Axar Patel, with rumours emerging of a possible trade involving either Shivam Dube or Dewald Brevis. Former India cricketer and BCCI chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has made his thoughts clear on such a trade.

Srikkanth urged CSK to not let go of Brevis, calling the 23-year-old South African batter a "match-winner".

"I won't let go of Brevis. He's a one-man match-winner. Axar Patel coming to CSK is a good idea, but not at the cost of Brevis. Brevis is a big reason why CSK's batting lineup looks strong. So why should they let go of him? I won't sacrifice Brevis for sure," Srikkanth said, speaking on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda.

Srikkanth also listed a few players who he believes should be let go by CSK.

"Matt Short, Zak Foulkes, Prashant Veer and Matt Henry are surely out. If I was CSK, I would release Kartik Sharma as well, and try to get him back at a lesser price. You can buy him back for Rs 5.5 crore as no one else will take him, given their stocks," he opined.

The former India opener, who won the 1983 World Cup and was closely associated with CSK in the early years of the IPL, also suggested that CSK's business is far from complete.

With the franchise having let go of Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis to SRH in exchange for Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards, Srikkanth hinted that that the franchise could be looking to bring in more fast bowlers.

"There is definitely some other bigger plan CSK have. They'll try to have a fresh set of fast bowlers. Because just this trade is more confusing than convincing. Just this trade was won by SRH. Their pace attack has become deadly. But for CSK, they obviously have something up their sleeve," Srikkanth said.

The retention deadline for teams for IPL 2027 is November 17, while the mini-auction will take place on December 16.

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