The IPL 2024 auction countdown has started, and all 10 teams are gearing up to enhance their squads for the upcoming event. The Chennai Super Kings, having let go of all-rounder Ben Stokes and with Ambati Rayudu retiring, have a good budget for the auction. Ravichandran Ashwin, the experienced spinner, suggests that the Super Kings might target Karun Nair as a replacement for Rayudu.

“I have a feeling that they will invest it on Karun Nair. They are searching for a replacement for Ambati Rayudu. Shahrukh is not a replacement for him at No.4. I have no idea who they are going to play in that position this season. They might try a left-hand option but if you look at CSK’s track record, they have never gone for an unknown commodity. They have never played anybody who just did well in their first season of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. So Karun Nair, folks, brace yourself to see him in yellow. I am not committing to anything, just doing a little Ravi Shastri impression,” said Ashwin in a video on his YouTube channel.

Ashwin used MS Dhoni as an example, expressing his desire to have a batter like Karun Nair in the team due to his excellent skills in playing spin bowling.

“He is somebody who can play spin well, who could sweep and reverse sweep. MS Dhoni loves it when there is a batter who can play between the top order and the middle order in the No.4 slot, especially in Chennai. I feel Karun Nair is perfect for that. I haven’t really seen Manish Pandey play spin too much in Chennai but Karun Nair, remember has a triple hundred in a Test match played in Chennai,” said Ashwin.

Ashwin thinks that Sunrisers Hyderabad might be interested in Karun Nair for their team.

“He could also go to SRH, there will definitely be competition so he could go for a decent price. He has also done well in County cricket recently. He has had a tough time in the last few years. It is not easy, you score a triple century in Test cricket and all of a sudden you find yourself nowhere. That is very difficult for any person’s mental make up but he has fought it out so hats off Karun. He did well in the KPL as well so, it all looks good for him,” Ashwin asserted.