Chennai: When Chennai Super Kings Last December’s IPL Money Auction, which saw new faces Prashant Vir and Karthik Sharma spend a staggering £14.2 crore each, won. The two even became the joint costliest uncapped Indian players signed in the IPL auction.For a franchise known for its ‘Dad’s Army’ tag and stability, there has been a marked change of late. Injuries have played a role but Manthan is hard to miss in the squad, with youngsters like Ayush Mahatre, Arul Patel, Prashant and Karthik taking the runs. The franchise is trading its signature set pieces for a long-term investment, betting that blooding these youngsters now will pay dividends for years to come.CSK batting coach Michael Hussey Recognize that the team is in a transition phase. “In a lot of ways, it’s a brand new team. You know there’s a lot of new players, some good young talent that we want to bring out in some games as well. Ideally, we’d like to settle on an 11 or 12 that we’re very comfortable with and then those guys hope we can play a strong role together. Get a few wins together, and then hopefully we’ll have the confidence to stick with a similar team.”This approach is reflected in the way he has persisted with 20-year-old Karthik. The wicketkeeper-batsman has endured a lean run in his first five matches. Still, Hussey believes he’s just one game away from finding his stride. “He’s a great talent; I hope we can see him here at CSK for the next five, 10 years. He’s passionate and wants to do well. We’d like to give him as much opportunity as possible and see him really grow in a CSK shirt,” he said.
