Mumbai opener Ayush Mhatre has been drafted to replace injured Ruturaj Gaikwad for the remainder of the IPL 2025 games.
CSK who has been struggling in the ongoing IPL season has finally decided to bring in 17 year old for INR 30 lakh. Ayush Mhatre who is yet to make his T20 debut, has two centuries in seven List A games. The first was a 117-ball 181 against Nagaland which included 15 fours and 11 sixes.
The second century 148 (93 balls) comes against Saurashtra which has 13 fours and nine sixes. He can also bowl off-spin, with which he has picked up seven List-A wickets in four innings.
“He came into the trial at Chennai and he was in the nets. It was just amazing how these young cricketers play,” CSK’s bowling consultant Eric Simmons said.
“They play a fearless brand of cricket. If you look at the way CSK plays, there’s a brand [of cricket] we play and he fitted in that perspective to be able to play with a sense of freedom, to be able to play aggressively but the way you play.”
🚨LION ALERT ‼️
Mumbai youngster Ayush Mhatre drafted as a replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad who had suffered an elbow fracture earlier. #WhistlePodu 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/PGMDH12J9q
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 14, 2025
“He came and had really good nets and the guys who kept eyes on him were very impressed with what he’s got and what he can offer for the future. So very excited to have him as part of the side.”
Ayush Mhatre also represented India U-19 team in three games at the Asia Cup in 2024. He made his red-ball debut in the Irani Cup last year and dazzled with a knock of 176 against Maharashtra, led Gaikwad that followed his 52 against Baroda on a turning track in Vadadora.
He played nine first class games scoring 504 runs including two hundreds at an average of 31.50. His List A numbers are more impressive 458 runs in seven innings at an average of 65.42 and a strike rate of 135.50.
He had also broken Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s world record of becoming the youngest player to score 150 plus in men’s senior List A cricket.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has led CSK in their first five games of the IPL, before being ruled out due to injury. MS Dhoni has taken over the captaincy registering the second victory of the season against Lucknow.
Chennai will play their next game against Mumbai Indians on April 20 at Wankhede Stadium.
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