In a major update from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp, 17-year-old Mumbai opener Ayush Mhatre will replace Ruturaj Gaikwad for the rest of IPL 2025. The young batter has impressed with his performances at junior and domestic levels. Cricbuzz confirmed on April 13 that Mhatre has officially secured his maiden IPL contract.
Mhatre, known for his aggressive stroke play, has been on CSK’s radar since the IPL auction. Although he went unsold at his base price of INR 30 lakh, there were rumours that CSK had shown keen interest. Now, the five-time champions have finally roped him in, and he is expected to join the squad in Mumbai ahead of their April 20 clash against the Mumbai Indians.
Interestingly, CSK’s choice of Mhatre over the more experienced Prithvi Shaw comes as a surprise to many. Shaw, with his explosive batting credentials, was widely expected to step in for Gaikwad. However, the franchise has opted for the teenage prodigy, who offers a similar attacking approach with the bat and potential for long-term investment.
Ayush Mhatre is a right-handed opening batter who also bowls off-spin. He made headlines during the U19 Asia Cup 2024, scoring 176 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 135.28 and an average of 44. Though yet to debut in senior-level T20s for Mumbai, Mhatre has already featured in both first-class and List A formats. He has scored 504 runs in 16 first-class innings, including two centuries, and averages an impressive 65.42 in List A matches.
CSK fans will be hoping Mhatre can inject fresh energy into their campaign, especially as the team searches for momentum in IPL 2025.
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