CSK eye all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed, but LSG stand firm

In the absence of Ravindra Jadeja, the Chennai Super Kings are keen on signing Bengal all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed ahead of next year’s IPL, sources told CricBlogger. However, Shahbaz’s current franchise, Lucknow Super Giants, are reluctant to let him go. With trade negotiations still ongoing, the deal remains far from certain. Yet, in the ever-unpredictable world of the IPL, one can never rule out the possibility of CSK pulling off another masterstroke to bring Shahbaz into their ranks.

In the absence of Ravindra Jadeja last season, the Chennai Super Kings invested heavily in two youngsters, spending a staggering ₹14.5 crore each on all-rounder Prashant Veer and wicketkeeper-batter Karthik Sharma.

However, with neither move yielding the desired results, the CSK management is now exploring more proven options. As a result, Bengal all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed has emerged as a player of significant interest, with the franchise viewing him as a potential solution to strengthen their balance and depth.

Years ago, former Indian opener and Bengal coach Arun Lal had remarked that if he had to pick one player ahead of everyone else for a tournament as big as the IPL, it would be Bengal all-rounder Shahbaz.

That assessment now appears increasingly justified, especially after the way Shahbaz led Shrachi Rarh Tigers to their maiden Bengal T20 Championship. A side that had spent most of the previous two seasons languishing near the bottom of the table was transformed under his leadership, underlining not only his all-round abilities but also his growing credentials as a captain.