IPL Auction: Best buy for Chennai, MI look at future

Chennai Super Kings management, known for its practicality and prudence, pulled off a coup by buying England Test captain and world’s premier all-rounder Ben Stokes in what looks like a leadership succession plan as and when Mahendra Singh Dhoni decides to hang his boots. Mumbai Indians, a team that has been in transition in the last two years and had some baffling buys at the mega auction last season, opted to invest in Stokes’ skill-set heir apparent Cameron Green. Sunrisers Hyderabad have added Harry Brooks in their roster but what they needed more was an option that stabilises their bowling line-up. PTI takes a look at top picks of all 10 teams Chennai Super Kings – Ben Stokes (16.25 crore), Ajinkya Rahane (Rs 50 lakh) Mahendra Singh Dhoni has a simple mantra — rely on tried and tested seniors, who have been there and done that. Building teams is something he has always left on other franchises. With IPL set to be back in home and away format, CSK will play seven home games at the Chepauk, which won’t exactly be a batter’s paradise. For Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo was a player of immense value and he wanted that replacement. CSK looked at all-rounders, who could hit big between overs 16-20 and exploit the tacky Chennai surface with variations. They initially looked at Jason Holder but went whole hog for the England all-rounder. Look at CSK’s batting line-up: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu/Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes, MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja. This is a dream T20 batting line-up on any surface with multi-skilled players. Stokes can both open the batting or bowling on days required and when the big man bids adieu to his favourite canary yellow jersey, Stokes could be the man leading the field. Mumbai Indians – Cameron Green (Rs 17.50 crore), Jhye Richardson (Rs 1.50 crore) Mumbai Indians had a disappointing mega auction last time. They had to go for one impact player and since they were looking at the next five years, Cameron Green at th