'We want to pick guys when they're ready to perform': CSK coach Hussey on why youngsters picked in IPL mega auction are warming benches

Other franchises did their homework in the mega auction and picked a few youngsters who they felt were ready to make their IPL debuts. For example, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have Priyansh Arya, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have Digvesh Rathi, Delhi Capitals (DC) have Vipraj Nigam, Mumbai Indians (MI) have Vignesh Puthur, Ashwani Kumar and so on. But Hussey sees it from a different point of view.

"With regards to blooding youngsters, we want to pick guys when they're ready to perform as well. We've got some very good players that are waiting for their chance. No question about that. But sometimes I think when teams give up the ghost and think, 'oh well, we can't win the tournament anymore; well, we'll just try the youngsters now.' We're still here to try and progress in the tournament as far as we can," Huseey told the reporters in the post-match press conference. 

 

 

CSK's senior players have struggled. Apart from Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vijay Shankar and Deepak Hooda are yet to prove their mettle. However, Hussey does not want to rule them out yet and said that CSK have excelled using this formular in past and gave examples of Shane Watson and Ajinkya Rahane.

"I don't agree with that," he said. "You know, we've had players in the twilight of their career come and play at CSK in the past. I think of Shane Watson. I think of Ajinkya Rahane, and they've performed really well for CSK. So I still think that the players that we've got still have some good cricket in front of them and can still offer us a lot. So, I don't necessarily agree that, you know, they're beyond their best. I still think we can find their best and see some great performances from them," Hussey explained.