Suresh Raina Advocates for Sarfaraz Khan's Inclusion in CSK Ahead of IPL Auction
Raina's Insights on Sarfaraz Khan's Potential
New Delhi, December 16: As the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction approaches on Tuesday, former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has shared his thoughts on Sarfaraz Khan's recent acquisition by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs 7 crore.
Raina suggests that CSK should seriously consider Sarfaraz Khan during the IPL 2026 mini-auction, emphasizing that the batter's impressive domestic performance makes him a valuable asset. He stated, “He is currently in exceptional form. Unlike Venkatesh Iyer, who was purchased for a significant sum without being in prime form, Sarfaraz is performing exceptionally well. Players like him, with such a diverse range of shots and confidence, are hard to find. If he plays just a few matches and secures two victories, the investment of 7 crore will be justified. His first-class performances have earned him a spot in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, showcasing his consistent form. Given the technical nature of Chennai's pitch, if he adapts well within CSK's winning-focused environment, his contributions could be immensely beneficial,” Raina remarked on JioStar.
Sarfaraz has bolstered his case leading up to the auction with an outstanding performance for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 256 runs across six innings, averaging 64.00 with a strike rate of 182.85.
The IPL 2026 auction is set to occur in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, featuring a finalized player list of 350 participants, which includes 240 Indian players and 110 from overseas.
CSK has retained 16 players from their 2024 roster, including four international players, with a total retention expenditure of Rs 81.60 crores. They have Rs 43.40 crores left for the mini-auction.
Retained players include: Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Sanju Samson (T), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, and Urvil Patel.