Abhinav Mukund Urges CSK to Retain Ayush Mhatre, Consider Trading Urvil Patel

New Delhi, November 11 (Daily Kiran) : Former Indian cricketer Abhinav Mukund has expressed strong support for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to retain young batsman Ayush Mhatre, emphasizing that he is a future star for the franchise. Speaking about the team’s strategy ahead of the IPL 2027 retention deadline on November 17 and the auction scheduled for December 16 in Goa, Mukund suggested that CSK should consider trading Urvil Patel instead.

Mhatre, who captained India to victory in the Under-19 World Cup this year, suffered a right hamstring tear during his return in the Ranji Trophy last month, which required surgery. He is expected to be sidelined for two to three months. Interestingly, Mhatre had previously faced a left hamstring injury during this year’s IPL, which forced him to withdraw from the tournament.

In an interview with ‘GeoStar’, Mukund stated, “CSK has the opportunity to trade a player like Urvil Patel. They already have Mhatre, Karthik Sharma, and Sarfaraz Khan in the squad. If all these batsmen stay fit, unfortunately, there won’t be a spot for Urvil.”

He further explained, “If CSK views these batsmen as part of their future, they should consider trading Urvil Patel. He could greatly benefit a team that needs aggressive batting and a wicketkeeper in the top order. Mhatre is not a player they can afford to trade; he is a major future asset for CSK. He can bat at number three, open the innings, and provide an explosive start.”

Mukund also highlighted the issue of having too many top-order batsmen competing for the same slots. “Why not release Urvil and keep Sarfaraz as a backup? This would create a more balanced team, and Urvil would get the playing time he deserves.”

CSK has struggled to make the playoffs in the last two seasons, leading to speculation about potentially letting go of all-rounder Shivam Dube. However, Mukund believes Dube should remain in the squad, citing his effectiveness against spin bowlers and his crucial role in the team’s success in 2023.

“There’s been a lot of discussion about Shivam Dube, but personally, I would like to keep him. He is a left-handed batsman who handles spin well and can also bowl medium pace when needed. His skills are especially valuable on the slow, turning pitches of Chepauk,” Mukund added. “If the ‘Impact Player’ rule is removed, his role will become even more significant. Letting him go would make finding a similar player in the auction very difficult. Retaining Shivam Dube should be an easy and wise decision for the team.”