IPL 2024: "Splendid cricketer in all forms of the game" - Sunil Gavaskar praises Daryl Mitchell

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that Daryl Mitchell was the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) best buy at the IPL 2024 auction. However, CSK bought six players at the auction in December last year. Mitchell (₹14 crore) was their most expensive buy, with Sameer Rizvi (₹8.40 crore), Shardul Thakur (₹4 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (₹2 crore), Rachin Ravindra (₹1.8 crore) and Avanish Rao Aravelly (₹20 lakh) being their other buys as well.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Gavaskar said: “Doesn’t matter whether I am happy or not, they have got to be happy. I think they have got a good blend over there. When you look at Daryl Mitchell, who I think has been a splendid cricketer in all forms of the game. The way he played in the ODI World Cup and the way he has played in the T20 format as well, with the fact that he can bowl a bit. He might not bowl you four overs but he can maybe come and bowl you the odd couple of overs.”

Sunil Gavaskar also added that the New Zealand player can prove destructive in any batting position as well. Meanwhile, Mitchell has scored 1260 runs which came at a strike rate of 138.61 in 63 T20Is. He has batted at all positions from opening to No. 7 as well but he has scored most of his runs at No. 4 and No. 5 as well. Aakash Chopra added that CSK might have bought Rachin Ravindra as an alternative to Moeen Ali.

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He said: “Then either at No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5, and even as a finisher at No. 5 or No. 6, he can be a very, very dangerous player. So I think that’s probably their best buy. I know the emotional buy would have been Rachin Ravindra because of the fantastic World Cup that he had. They will probably be looking to see whether he can fit in the shoes of Moeen Ali.”

The veteran also added that the two spin-bowling all-rounders bring similar attributes to the table as well. It is also noteworthy that, Rachin  Ravindra hasn’t enjoyed great success with the bat in T20I cricket, scoring 146 runs in 17 innings at an average of 12.16 and a strike rate of 116.80 as well. However, he has done well with the ball, picking up 11 wickets in 13 innings which came at an impressive economy rate of 6.67 as well.

“Both of them are similar cricketers, excepting Moeen bowls right-handed and bats left-handed, and Rachin Ravindra bats left-handed and bowls left-handed as well. Both are outstanding fielders as well,” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.