CSK snap Dominic Drakes as a replacement for injured Curran

Despite only playing two games in the Middle East leg of the tournament, Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Sam Curran was ruled out of the remainder of the competition owing to a back injury. While it was expected that the franchise would have to sign one of the four West Indies pacers in the country, the franchise has opted to pick St Kitts and Nevis Patriots' star Dominic Drakes. Drakes earlier was influential in the Patriots' CPL win, under the leadership of CSK star Dwayne Bravo. 

In the final of the competition, Drakes had picked up one wicket and scored a match-winning 24-ball 48 to hand the Patriots their maiden CPL win. While Drakes isn't expected to feature in the setup, it may well prove to be a valuable addition to the squad owing to his abilities to round up as an left-handed all-rounder. The all-rounder picked up 16 wickets in the recently concluded edition of the CPL. 

"Chennai Super Kings have signed Dominic Drakes as a replacement for the injured England all-rounder Sam Curran for the remainder of the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021," read the press release from IPL.

"Drakes is an uncapped West Indian all-rounder who has featured in one First-Class, 25 List A and 19 T20 matches so far. He is a left-handed batsman and a left-arm medium pacer. Chennai Super Kings take on Punjab Kings in their last league game of the VIVO IPL 2021 on October 7 at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai," it added.