Imran Tahir won the Purple Cap award in IPL 2019, with some brilliant bowling performances for the Chennai Super Kings. The South African spinner could have done extremely well on the slow pitches of the United Arab Emirates in IPL 2020, but the team management has surprisingly not given a single opportunity to him in this season.
Tahir had recently tweeted that although he was not getting a spot in the playing XI, he was happy to serve the drinks to the others because there was a time when the other players served him drinks. Recently, CSK captain MS Dhoni had told in an interview that he wished to include Imran Tahir in the CSK playing XI. However, because of the team balance and overseas players’ limit, Tahir missed out on a deserving spot in the playing XI.
The CEO of Chennai Super Kings, Kasi Vishwanathan recently had an interview with ANI, where he gave an update on Imran Tahir’s future. He clarified that CSK were not interested in any mid-season transfers and added:
“He will definitely come into the picture as we go ahead. Right now, with the conditions on offer, the team composition has been planned with two foreigners at the top as pure batsmen and then two pace bowling all-rounders. But he will come in with the wickets starting to take turn in the second half. You have the 4-foreigner restriction so you always plan according to the conditions on offer.”
Since Suresh Raina is not available to play in IPL 2020, the Chennai-based franchise need to include both Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson in the playing XI. Also, Sam Curran has done well as an all-rounder. Thus, the chances that Tahir gets a chance to play for CSK in IPL 2020 are very less. It will be interesting to see if CSK give him a game this season.
