IPL: Dwayne Bravo excited to be retained by Chennai Super Kings

Bengaluru, January 30: West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo expressed his happiness over getting retained by Chennai Super Kings through the Right to Match (RTM) card.

"I'm happy, blessed and honoured to be retained by the Chennai Super Kings," Bravo said after Chennai exercised the RTM card at Rs 6.40 crore for him during IPL player auction in Bengaluru last weekend.

"Personally, it is the best franchise that I have ever played for and I'm looking forward to it and meeting up with our captain MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, (Ravindra) Jadeja and also to the newcomers who are now going to be new members of our family.

"Harbhajan Singh, Ambati Rayudu to just name a few guys who are going to join us and wear the out jersey," said Bravo.

Bravo turned out for CSK between 2011 and 2015, scoring 706 runs and taking 79 wickets. The CSK emerged as one of the most successful franchises in the opening decade by winning the IPL twice, finishing runners-up on four occasions and qualifying to the Playoffs in all eight seasons between 2008 and 2015.

"The return of Chennai Super Kings to the IPL is a big one, a moment that a lot of people were waiting for," said Bravo, who bagged the Purple Cap for most wickets in 2013 and 2015.

"Chennai Super Kings are one of the most successful franchises in IPL history. Definitely, IPL without Chennai Super Kings, it didn't have the same impact it had in the previous years," he said

South Africa pacer Lungi Ngidi will be making his IPL debut in the CSK jersey this year and Bravo was excited to welcome him.

"A young, talented fast bowler... I'm very happy to be in the same team with him. I'm looking forward to embracing him when he comes to represent the best franchise in the world," Bravo said.