On occasion, cricket will produce an afternoon that is so contradictory (the team losing) and yet so rewarding (an individual has won something for themselves in the future). England’s third ODI in Wellington was just such a day. At 97-6, England were facing a typical downward spiral that typically concludes with a dignified handshake and a humble post-match interview.
However, England’s Jamie Overton found his way back to respectability with a spirited 68 off 62. He had to be both cautious and rebellious to craft an innings. He then came back on the field and bowled with the same focus as if time, the scoreboard, and jet lag meant nothing to him when he finished with 2-32 from 10 overs.
After a forgettable IPL 2025 (just three matches, an economy close to 14, and a roster role that barely existed), Overton’s resurgence forces a fresh question: Should CSK really be letting this version of Jamie Overton walk away?
Let’s break down the case.
Rare Role, Scarce Talent, Perfect Price
CSK’s biggest off-field problem right now isn’t auction strategy, it’s biology. India simply does not produce many pace-bowling all-rounders. The few that exist internationally? Marco Jansen is locked in. Stoinis isn’t moving. Omarzai’s price tag will make your analytics intern faint.
That leaves Jamie Overton tall, quick, right-handed, and crucially already on CSK’s books for ₹1.5 crore. In a market where the pace-bowling finisher has become the unicorn commodity, that price is practically a thrift-store miracle.
CSK can’t buy this skill profile in the next auction. Not realistically. Not without paying triple or missing out entirely. Retention at that price is not sentiment; it’s mathematics.
Team Balance Exposed by Reality, Not Theory
On paper, CSK’s top order looks sorted. Ruturaj, Mhatre, Brevis, and Urvil Patel all safe bets. But cricket isn’t played on paper, it’s played in the 17th over when Shivam Dube sees a 146 kph hard length and suddenly becomes mortal.
Both Dube and Jadeja are finishers the same way some movies are based on a true story, in theory, not execution. Add an ageing MS Dhoni who is likely entering his final lap, and CSK’s lower order looks less like a finishing engine and more like a prayer circle.
Enter Overton:
- Hits pace
- Clears the leg side
- Has the temperament to rebuild
- Has the power to detonate
And that’s before we get to his utility with the ball.
CSK desperately lacked a reliable enforcer in the middle overs last season. Overton struggled in 2025, yes, but his role was unclear, his spell lengths inconsistent, and his match rhythm disrupted by sporadic selection. His current form suggests those conditions have changed dramatically.
Given Sam Curran’s price tag and lower hitting ceiling, Overton suddenly solves more problems than he creates.
Form Surge That’s Too Significant to Ignore
Since IPL 2025, Overton has been on a tier that most all-rounders only see in their dreams.
In The Hundred:
- 8 wickets in 6 games
- Average: 21.37
- Strike rate with the bat: 184+
Against South Africa & Ireland:
- 4 wickets in 4 white-ball matches
- Improved rhythm and control
And then the New Zealand ODI series, the real breakthrough:
- Batting average: 52
- Strike rate: 108+
- Bowling economy: <4.7
That is not good form. That is a career corner turning sharply in CSK’s direction.
Players don’t often hit simultaneous peaks in both disciplines. When they do, you keep them, not release them into a market where someone richer, smarter, or faster will scoop them instantly.
A Game Tilting Toward Multi-Dimensional Cricketers
IPL history tells us something simple: teams thrive when their No. 6 or 7 can win games on both fronts. Think 2018 Hardik Pandya. Think peak Andre Russell. Think Moeen Ali’s early CSK stint.
CSK’s 2025 season showed the opposite: brittle finishing, lack of pace-hitting, and bowling depth stretched like elastic. Overton’s recent performances mirror the trajectories of players who transformed franchises after lean starts (Jansen at SRH, Livingstone at PBKS, Holder at RR 2020).
This is exactly the profile IPL teams overpay for. CSK already has him for cheap.
CSK can gamble on an auction, or they can hedge with a proven, in-form, underpriced all-rounder whose current trajectory is upward at every level of the game. If Chennai lets him go, someone else will sign him and give him the exact role CSK now desperately needs filled.
Key Takeaway
Overton isn’t just a retention; he’s the glue CSK didn’t realize they were missing.
FAQs
- Why did Overton struggle in IPL 2025?
Limited opportunities, unclear role definition, and a chaotic CSK bowling setup hampered him.
- What makes his recent form special?
He has hit peak rhythm both as a hitter and a disciplined middle-overs bowler, a rare dual surge.
- Can CSK find a similar player in the auction?
Highly unlikely. The market for pace-bowling all-rounders is thin and heavily overpriced.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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