Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday welcomed their new recruits to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at an event in Mumbai, captained by MS Dhoni, before the opener against Delhi Capital.
MS Dhoni continued the tradition of handing over the new Chennai Super Kings jersey to his new recruits. Players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Moeen Ali, Krishnappa Gowtham were seen receiving their official kits from the captain at the ceremony.
Putting our paws together in welcoming freshers into the #SuperFam! #WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁 💛 pic.twitter.com/Noym2hbFB1
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 7, 2021
Cheteshwar Pujara, who made his return to the Indian Premier League for the first time since 2014, took to social media to thank MS Dhoni and CSK as he was welcomed on the set of the 3-time champion. CSK has camped in Mumbai, where they will play their first 5 matches of IPL 2021 in a tight bio-safe environment.
After the end of their worst season in 2020, in which they failed the play-offs for the first time in tournament history, CSK was expected to make the bulk change. However, he retained most of his players, including Suresh Raina, who opted out of the IPL 2020 due to personal reasons.
CSK bought 6 players in the IPL 2021 auction in February, and spent big bucks on Moeen Ali and K Gowtham.
All eyes will be on Pujara as the senior batsman is returning to the IPL for the first time in IPL 2014 after his stint with the Punjab Kings. As noted by former India spinner Pragyan Ojha, Pujara may not get a straight game for CSK in IPL 2021. But his presence in the dressing room will be a major boost for CSK.
Pujara was seen in a good position during the training session as he was seen hitting big sixes against his CSK teammates. Despite the perception of being a Test specialist, Pujara averages close to 30 in the T20 and is less than 109.9. Only in 2019, Cheteshwar Pujara scored his maiden T20 century for Saurashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Railways in Indore.
