Ayush Mhatre Steps in for Injured Ruturaj Gaikwad in CSK Squad for IPL 2025
In a shocking turn of events for defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the team has been forced to make a mid-season change as their dynamic captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2025 due to a nagging elbow injury. Stepping into his shoes is Mumbai’s prodigious talent Ayush Mhatre, a 17-year-old right-handed batter who has been signed as an injury replacement for the remainder of the season.
The news was first broken by TimesofIndia.com on Sunday night, with the IPL governing body officially confirming the development on Monday morning via their social media channels. Mhatre, who joins CSK at a base price of Rs 30 Lakh, is set to link up with the squad ahead of their high-octane clash against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians on April 20 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
Mhatre, despite going unsold at the IPL mega auction in Jeddah last November, caught the attention of CSK’s talent scouts during mid-season trials held at their home ground, MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, earlier this month. At the time, the young batter was part of the BCCI’s Under-19 zonal camp in Rajkot and was specially flown in for the trials. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan expressed his delight, stating, ‘We’ve been tracking Ayush for a while now. His performances in the trials were exceptional, and our scouts believe he has the potential to step up in this challenging environment.’
The teenager’s domestic record speaks for itself. In the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, Mhatre amassed 458 runs at a staggering average, while in the Ranji Trophy, he scored 471 runs including three centuries across formats, showcasing his knack for big scores and consistency. His aggressive batting style and ability to anchor innings could provide CSK with much-needed stability in Gaikwad’s absence.
Gaikwad’s injury blow came during CSK’s encounter against Rajasthan Royals on March 30, where he sustained damage to his elbow while attempting a diving catch. Despite battling through the pain in the next two matches, scoring a mere 5 and 1, it became evident that he hadn’t fully recovered. Head coach Stephen Fleming addressed the media before their match against Kolkata Knight Riders, confirming Gaikwad’s prolonged absence and the decision to hand over the captaincy reins to the legendary MS Dhoni. ‘It’s a tough loss for us. Ruturaj has been a fantastic leader and player, but we have faith in our squad depth and the return of MS as captain brings immense experience,’ Fleming noted.
In a parallel development, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have also bolstered their squad by signing Karnataka’s Smaran Ravichandran as a replacement for injured spinner Adam Zampa. The 23-year-old left-hander joins SRH at a base price of Rs 30 Lakh, adding depth to their batting lineup as they push for a playoff spot.
As CSK gear up for a challenging phase without their regular captain, all eyes will be on young Ayush Mhatre to see if he can seize this golden opportunity and etch his name among cricketing greats in the Indian Premier League. Will this Mumbai lad be the spark that keeps CSK’s title defense alive? Only time will tell.