Copyright sportskeeda
England all-rounder Jamie Overton reinforced himself as one of the dominant white-ball forces going around in world cricket with a sparkling performance in the third ODI against New Zealand in Wellington on November 1. The 31-year-old produced one of the best rearguard actions with the bat after England slipped to an embarrassing 97/6 in the 22nd over.Overton mixed defense with attack to perfection, scoring a 62-ball 68 to help the visitors reach a respectable total of 222. The veteran's heroic efforts for the day weren't finished as he also bowled a miserly spell of 2/32 in 10 overs with the ball.While his all-round brilliance could not help England avoid a series whitewash, Overton helped himself big time ahead of the much-awaited IPL retentions and auction.Chennai Super Kings (CSK) acquired the English all-rounder in the IPL 2025 auction, but a flawed roster meant he could play only three out of the 14 matches for them last season. Overton also did not help himself by traveling at an economy of almost 14 with the ball and not capitalizing completely in his limited batting opportunities.Yet, much has changed over the past few months to the point where, along with other league dynamics, this should prompt CSK to reconsider retaining Overton.On that note, let us look at three key reasons why CSK must bring Jamie Overton back into their setup for the 2026 IPL season.#1 Combination of rare breed and bargain buyA lower middle-order batter with pace-bowling ability is arguably the most sought-after commodity in the IPL, especially with the lack of such a breed in the Indian setup. With most of the elite pace-bowling all-rounders like Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, and Azmatullah Omarzai, among others, already established in their respective franchises, the cupboard is bare for CSK to acquire one in the auction.Several other Indian or overseas players with this skillset are either going to be a challenge to buy realistically or short on caliber, compared to Jamie Overton. At ₹1.5 crores, the English all-rounder is fast looking like a bargain buy, given his skillset.Given the lack of pace-bowling all-rounders in India, the value for overseas players of such a repertoire is usually higher than their actual warranted price. Hence, the combination of being a rare breed already present at a more-than-acceptable price value makes Jamie Overton a worthy retention for CSK going forward.#2 Jamie Overton is a necessity instead of a luxury for CSKJamie Overton would have been a valuable yet tradable or replaceable luxury for most IPL franchises. However, for CSK, given their roster from last season and their likely retentions, the English all-rounder could end up being a necessity instead of a luxury when it comes to team balance.The Men in Yellow all but solidified their top four or five in the batting order towards the end of a dismal IPL 2025 season.With Ayush Mhatre, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dewald Brevis, and Urvil Patel almost certain to be retained and made the top four, CSK should be all but sorted at the top for IPL 2026. However, in Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja, CSK have two players who are finishers more in theory than in reality.Both international stars have struggled against pacers in the death overs over the past couple of years. With the legendary MS Dhoni getting up there in years and likely to bow out after another season, Overton becomes a non-negotiable as a potential lower-order finisher.CSK's other bugaboo last season was the lack of reliable pace-bowling options with the new ball and in the middle overs. While Overton himself struggled in both phases in his three matches, his recent success and potentially increased opportunities in the upcoming season could help the side fill that crucial role.While the other England all-rounder in the squad, Sam Curran, can offer much of the same, his slightly higher price and lack of credentials as a lower-order finisher make Jamie Overton the better bet for CSK to retain.#3 Overton's recent form across levels makes him an alluring retention optionJamie Overton has seemingly hit his ultimate purple patch with bat and ball in both international and domestic levels since the 2025 IPL season. The all-rounder impressed in the 2025 Hundred season, picking up eight wickets in six outings at an excellent average of 21.37. Overton also flexed his muscles with the bat, scoring at a strike rate of over 184 in 38 deliveries for the London Spirit. He followed up on an admirable Hundred campaign with a solid four wickets in as many white-ball outings against South Africa and Ireland. However, his coming-out party in international cricket was in the just-concluded three-match ODI series in New Zealand. Overton starred with bat and ball in all three games, finishing with an outstanding average of 52 and a strike rate of over 108. His right-arm pace-bowling also delivered the goods with three wickets at an economy of under 4.70. Confidence and form are everything in sports, and Jamie Overton could not be in a better space on both counts, making him an alluring retention option for CSK.
