In a recent event, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was in an awkward moment where he hilariously dragged Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Recently, Ruturaj Gaikwad was present at the INFYusion event hosted by Infosys in Bengaluru, where his mic was suddenly turned off. When the presenter was querying about the incident, the CSK skipper hilariously said that it might be done by an RCB fan.

Here are the scenarios of that event

Presenter: What's happening here? Who turned off Ruturaj Gaikwad's mic?

Ruturaj: Maybe an RCB fan.

Presenter: What's your favorite IPL moment?

Ruturaj: My first match as captain, and we won that match against RCB.

He has taken these RCB related incidents personally which has happened after 18th May🥶🥶..
He's gonna cook this IPL..
Mark my words 💥💥 pic.twitter.com/3ZZDls3oeE

— Mahi Way (@NamahShivaay108) December 19, 2024

See Also: Virat Kohli's childhood coach drops a bombshell

RCB vs CSK battle in the IPL 2024

Just before the beginning of the IPL 2024, Ruturaj Gaikwad was chosen as the new captain of Chennai Super Kings, one of the most successful IPL teams. The Indian cricketer started his IPL captaincy journey with the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chennai, where CSK won by six wickets. It was the first game of the IPL 2024, and the defending champions confidently started the tournament under new leadership.

Defending champions CSK were in a do-or-die situation in the last league stage game of the IPL 2024 against RCB at Bengaluru. It was a tight contest between RCB and CSK, where RCB scored 218/5, but they needed to stop CSK at less than 200 runs to qualify for the playoffs; CSK would qualify for the playoffs by scoring 200 or more runs. The match went to the last over, where CSK scored 191/7 and RCB booked their spot for the playoffs.

IPL 2024 most runs also experienced RCB vs CSK battle

In the IPL 2024, while the former RCB captain Virat Kohli finished as the leading run-scorer with 741 runs, CSK skipper Gaikwad scored 583 runs and finished as the second-most run-scorer in the tournament. 

After the thrilling and unforgettable mega auction, all ten teams are set for IPL 2025. It is now time for team analysis and to choose the best and worst teams before the beginning of the IPL 2025. While some franchises have impressed on the mega auction table, some franchises have disappointed despite buying talented players. Let's look at the Cricketwinner ratings of all the 10 squads

1. Gujarat Titans

After some good retentions (Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tiwari, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan), IPL 2022 champions Gujarat Titans battled hard to secure Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Prasidh Krishna. The retained and top-signed players love to dominate in their respective duties. Moreover, GT added more good all-rounders like Glenn Phillips, Sherfane Rutherford, Karim Janat, Washington Sundar, etc. Overall, the franchise has built up a well-balanced team for the IPL 2025, as there is hardly any gap. 

GT full squad for IPL 2025: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Sherfane Rutherford, Gerald Coetzee, Glenn Phillips, Sai Kishore, Mahipal Lomror, Karim Janat, Gurnoor Brar, Arshad Khan, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Kumar Kushagra, Nishant Sindhu, Manav Suthar, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya.

Team rating: 8.5/10

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Shocking Unsold Star Players in the IPL history

2. SunRisers Hyderabad

IPL 2016 champions and IPL 2024 runners-up SunRisers Hyderabad set a new example of dominant batting in the last IPL season. We can expect the same in the IPL 2025 as most of the key batters are retained in the squad along with the skipper and pacer Pat Cummins. Apart from some strong all-rounder names, SRH also have strong pacers and spinners. It seems that the franchise has built up another well-balanced T20 side. 

SRH full squad for IPL 2025:  Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Abhinav Manohar, Adam Zampa, Simarjeet Singh, Eshan Malinga, Brydon Carse, Sachin Baby, Kamindu Mendis, Zeeshan Ansari, Aniket Verma, Atharva Taide.

Team rating: 8/10

3. Kolkata Knight Riders

Due to the strong retention and the addition of more regular faces from the auction, the three-time and reigning IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) can maintain their champion charms in IPL 2025. The overseas dominant all-rounders are match-winners (Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, Rovman Powell) along with Ramandeep Singh and Venkatesh Iyer. 

Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi are strong names in batting. With Sunil Narine and Moeen Ali, Indian cricketers Varun Chakravarthy and Mayank Markande provide strong spin bowling options. South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje and rising Indian pacer Harshit Rana are two big names in the pace-bowling line-up. 

KKR full squad for IPL 2025:  Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Spencer Johnson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Rovman Powell, Ajinkya Rahane, Umran Malik, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Mayank Markande.

Team rating: 7.5/10

4. Chennai Super Kings

The present Chennai Super Kings squad has many known faces for the Yellow Army fans. Not only their retained players, but also the RTM Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Sam Curran, and Ravichandran Ashwin also have great memories with the team. If the experienced team management can work well with the Indian pace-bowling line-up, the five-time IPL champions can create a new IPL history.

CSK full squad for IPL 2025: Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, Noor Ahmad, R Ashwin, Devon Conway, Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Anshul Kamboj, Sam Curran, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Vijay Shankar, Vansh Bedi, Shreyas Gopal, C Andre Siddarth, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shaik Rasheed, Mukesh Choudhary, Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

Team rating: 7/10

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Steal Deals from the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

5. Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Three-time IPL runners-up Royal Challengers Bengaluru have strong batting lineups on top and in the middle. Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, etc. are big names in the RCB batting line-up. The pace-bowling lineup is equally strong with the Indians and overseas names. All-rounders can fill up the spin-bowling gap.   

RCB full squad for IPL 2025: Virat Kohli, Rajit Patidar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Tim David, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Salam, Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Romario Shepherd, Swapnil Singh, Swastik Chikara, Manoj Bhandage, Abhinandan Singh, Lungi Ngidi, Mohit Rathee

Team rating: 6.5/10

6. Delhi Capitals

Although Delhi Capitals had to release Rishabh Pant, they still have built up a good team for IPL 2025. While the team has strong foreign names in the batting (Jake Fraser-McGruk, Harry Brook, Faf du Plessis, Tristian Stubbs), the Indian batting names are limited to KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel. The team has young talented all-rounders, where Axar Patel has to play an important role. The pace-bowling has strong names, both from India (Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, Mohit Sharma) and overseas (Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera). Meanwhile, the experienced spinners are Kuldeep Yadav and all-rounder Axar Patel. 

DC full squad for IPL 2025: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mukesh Kumar, Harry Brook, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Sameer Rizvi, Dushmantha Chameera, Donavan Ferreira, Vipraj Nigam, Manvanth Kumar, Darshan Nalkande, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari.

Team rating: 6.5/10

7. Mumbai Indians

The five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians are desperate to break their recent inconsistent status. While they retained important names, batting looks strong with the question of its depth and strong replacements. Pace bowlers are very strong with the leading charges of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. All-rounder Mitchell Santner is the only powerful experienced spinner in the team. 

MI full squad for IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Allah Ghazanfar, Mitchell Santner, Ryan Rickelton, Reece Topley, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Bevon Jacobs, Ashwani Kumar, Krishnan Shrijith, Arjun Tendulkar, Lizaad Williams, Vignesh Puthur.

Team rating: 6/10

8. Punjab Kings

The IPL 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings are desperate to remove their underperformer tag from the IPL 2025, as the team has failed to reach the playoffs the last ten seasons. They have big overseas names Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, and Lockie Ferguson, along with the Indian stars Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal. While there is a lack of Indian alternatives, the PBKS’ success in the IPL 2025 depends on the performances of the Indian cricketers. 

PBKS full squad for IPL 2025: Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Pyla Avinash, Pravin Dubey.

Team rating: 5.5/10

9. Lucknow Super Giants

Lucknow Super Giants have strong overseas batting options along with Rishabh Pant, whose INR 27 crore bid broke the IPL auction record. Apart from Pant, the franchise’s Indian batting option isn’t strong enough. The team has been filled with young talented Indian pacers and spinners, who need proper guidance in tough times. By looking at the team initially, the franchise hasn’t set up a balanced team for the IPL 2025.   

LSG full squad for IPL 2025: Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan, Rishabh Pant, Avesh Khan, David Miller, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Akash Deep, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Shamar Joseph, M Siddharth, Himmat Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, Digvesh Singh, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Akash Singh, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Aryan Juyal.

Team rating: 4.5/10

10. Rajasthan Royals

While the inaugural IPL champions Rajasthan Royals have retained strong names, the exclusion of English white-ball captain Jos Buttler was the big blow for Royals. The franchise still has enough explosive Indian batters, and their pace and spin bowling options are fully talented and consistent. While they haven’t any experienced Indian spinners, their Indian pace bowling experience is limited.

RR full squad for IPL 2025: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma, Jofra Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Nitish Rana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kwena Maphaka, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Akash Madhwal, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh, Kumar Kartikeya, Kunal Rathore, Ashok Sharma.

Team rating: 3.5/10

The five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have set a strong team for IPL 2025. Just like the other seasons, CSK will start IPL 2025 as one of the favourites for the competition.

CSK finished the IPL 2024 in fifth place as the defending champions closely missing out on the playoff qualifications. In the last five IPL seasons, while CSK won two titles, they failed to reach the playoffs in the other three seasons. 

Chennai Super Kings: Key additions from the mega auction

After retaining five key names, CSK were strong at the IPL 2025 mega auction. We are experiencing the return of Ravichandran Ashwin along with the overseas players Devon Conway and Sam Curran, while the New Zealander Rachin Ravindra has also returned through the RTM. The key familiar faces are set to continue the Yellow Army culture. 

CSK Full Squad

Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad (retained), Shaik Rasheed, Rahul Tripathi, Andre Siddarth

Wicketkeepers: MS Dhoni (retained), Devon Conway (New Zealander), Vansh Bedi

All-rounders: Shivam Dube (retained), Ravindra Jadeja (retained), (RTM) Rachin Ravindra (New Zealander),  Ravichandran Ashwin, Anshul Kamboj, Sam Curran (English), Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton (English), Vijay Shankar, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, 

Spinners: Noor Ahmad (Afghan), Shreyas Gopal

Pacers: Matheesha Pathirana (retained/ Sri Lankan), Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis (Australian)

Brief SWOT analysis

CSK are very strong after their calculative and clear journey in the mega auction. The team has strong names in almost every place. The CSK have lined up many talented all-rounders in the squad. Their batting and spin-bowling have strong options just like their overseas options, but the experienced pace-bowling option is limited. Injury or off-form in the top pace-bowling option can disturb CSK’s confidence.  

CSK Best possible XI for IPL 2025

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed

The 2025 IPL Mega Auction in Jeddah featured a mix of shocks, significant expenditure, and intriguing roster reshuffles. With INR 639.15 crore invested in 182 players, all ten teams took decisive steps to upgrade their squads. From record-breaking acquisitions to savvy deals, here's a team-by-team breakdown of all ten team's auction results.

The recent IPL Mega Auction altered team dynamics, injecting each club with new talent and strategy. Assessing the power of these reconfigured teams requires a careful assessment of their acquisitions, retained players, and potential synergy. That being said, here is a ranking list of all ten franchises' based on their retentions, acquisitions, and overall team structure following the 2025 IPL Mega Auction. 

1. Gujarat Titans

The Gujarat Titans kept their key players and made strategic acquisitions, including Jos Buttler and Mohammed Siraj. Their roster currently appears balanced, with depth in both batting and bowling. GT has a deep batting lineup, but its probable top three - Gill, Buttler, and Sai Sudharsan - are all long-inning batters. Along that, they have support in the form of Glenn Philps, Washington Sundar, and Sherfane Rutherford.

Another strong point for the Titans is their spinners department, which is led by Afghani star Rashid Khan and will feature emerging domestic players. Overall, the 2022 winners have maintained an optimal balance of young Indian and international stars across all departments. 

Gujarat Titans 2025 IPL Squad: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Sherfane Rutherford, Gerald Coetzee, Glenn Phillips, Sai Kishore, Mahipal Lomror, Karim Janat, Gurnoor Brar, Arshad Khan, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Kumar Kushagra, Nishant Sindhu, Manav Suthar, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya.

2. Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians kept their Indian superstars, including Naman Dhir, through the Right to Match (RTM) card. Through the auction, they acquired Deepak Chahar and Karn Sharma, both of whom have league experience. Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner are previous IPL champions, while Jacks is a highly sought-after T20 power batter.

In addition, no one can forget Will Jacks' outstanding performance in the previous edition for RCB, which will help them strengthen their middle-order unit and could be a potential death-over hitter, making them one of the strongest teams in the forthcoming edition. Again, their combination of youth and experience makes them severe candidates for their sixth IPL title. 

Mumbai Indians 2025 IPL Squad: Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Allah Ghazanfar, Mitchell Santner, Ryan Rickelton, Reece Topley, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Bevon Jacobs, Ashwani Kumar, Krishnan Shrijith, Arjun Tendulkar, Lizaad Williams, Vignesh Puthur.

3. Punjab Kings

Punjab's rebuilt appearance appears menacing, with a new coach (Ricky Ponting) and captain (almost definitely Shreyas). They have five Indian bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Kuldeep Sen, and Vijaykumar Vyshak, and they also have a handful of all-rounders.

Alternatively, they might choose between Lockie Ferguson and Josh Inglis. Their Indian batters - Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, and Nehal Wadhera- add diversity to their intriguing batting attack. With a significant restructuring, it is no surprise for the team to be a dark horse in the forthcoming tournament. 

Punjab Kings 2025 IPL Squad: Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Pyla Avinash, Pravin Dubey.

4. Chennai Super Kings

As is frequently the case, Chennai Super Kings emerged from the IPL 2025 auction as one of the tournament's strongest teams. A group of spinners, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Noor Ahmed, supported by Gopal, represent the probable circumstances in Chepauk. It remains to be seen if they will take advantage of Jamie Overton's power-hitting ability. But not to forget, they have Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi and their legendary ubiquitous campaigner, MS Dhoni.

Still, they already have all-rounders in Sam Curran, Vijay Shankar, and Deepak Hooda. Also, they have a strong pace unit in Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, and Anshul Kamboj. 

Chennai Super Kings 2025 IPL Squad: Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, Noor Ahmad, R Ashwin, Devon Conway, Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Anshul Kamboj, Sam Curran, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Vijay Shankar, Vansh Bedi, Shreyas Gopal, C Andre Siddarth, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shaik Rasheed, Mukesh Choudhary, Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

5. Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad have a powerful top five and a first-choice bowling attack with a lot of pedigree, but the link between the two is likely untested. Their backup overseas players, Kamindu Mendis, Brydon Carse, and Eshan Malinga, have never played in the IPL but have shown potential in recent cricket performances. Though they have ended up as runners-up in the previous edition, the team is determined to scalp their second-ever coveted IPL trophy.

The Cummins-led team has created a new bowling assault that includes the skipper, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Jaydev Unadkat, and Simarjeet Singh, among others, implying that the other nine franchises will face a dangerous bowling attack.  

Sunrisers Hyderabad 2025 IPL Squad: Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Abhinav Manohar, Adam Zampa, Simarjeet Singh, Eshan Malinga, Brydon Carse, Sachin Baby, Kamindu Mendis, Zeeshan Ansari, Aniket Verma, Atharva Taide.

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Steal Deals from the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

6. Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Royal Challengers Bengaluru parted ways with their reliable batters Will Jacks, Maxwell, and du Plessis, but they filled the voids with Salt, Livingstone, and David. Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar, and Yash Dayal are possibly the most lethal new-ball pairing. While Jitesh, Krunal Pandya, Jacob Bethell, and Romario Shepherd constitute an explosive middle-order quartet, each plays a secondary role.

Overall, this appears to be one of the more hazardous sides. Meanwhile, the bowling lineup seems complete, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Krunal Pandya, and Rasikh Dar. Overall, while the squad appears poised to compete for the title, RCB might have built a far better foundation, given the available funds.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 2025 IPL Squad: Virat Kohli, Rajit Patidar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Tim David, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Salam, Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Romario Shepherd, Swapnil Singh, Swastik Chikara, Manoj Bhandage, Abhinandan Singh, Lungi Ngidi, Mohit Rathee

7. Delhi Capitals

The Delhi Capitals have assembled a good team. They utilised the RTM card to repurchase Jake Fraser-McGurk in the auction and paid INR 14 crore for KL Rahul. The pair is expected to start the innings with Harry Brook at number three, Tristan Stubbs at four, and Abishek Porel at five. Mitchell Starc and T Natarajan can wreak havoc, while Kuldeep Yadav can handle spin.

Mukesh Kumar or Mohit Sharma will lead their number XI, resulting in a lethal bowling unit. They do, however, lack some mid-order experience. It's hardly unexpected if Faf du Plessis is picked over Harry Brook, who has a poor IPL record. But, overall, it is a decent arsenal to check for.

Delhi Capitals 2025 IPL Squad: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mukesh Kumar, Harry Brook, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Sameer Rizvi, Dushmantha Chameera, Donavan Ferreira, Vipraj Nigam, Manvanth Kumar, Darshan Nalkande, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari.

8. Lucknow Supergiants

Lucknow Super Giants had a stunning auction if only the batting unit is considered. Getting Rishabh Pant, David Miller, Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram in a single auction is a terrific business, especially when the franchise already had Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni in the mix.

They retained Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan, which was a great call and signed Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, M Siddharth, Shahbaz Ahmed and Shamar Joseph, among others. It looks like a good core, but they needed an overseas and experienced fast bowler to complete it and could potentially hinder them.

Lucknow Supergiants 2025 IPL Squad: Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan, Rishabh Pant, Avesh Khan, David Miller, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Akash Deep, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Shamar Joseph, M Siddharth, Himmat Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, Digvesh Singh, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Akash Singh, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Aryan Juyal.

9. Kolkata Knight Riders

The Kolkata Knight Riders have retained Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction. Half of their work was done before the auction since all of these players were proven match-winners who had done an excellent job for the franchise.

KKR busted the bank by buying Venkatesh Iyer for a staggering INR 23.75 crore. He turned out to be the third most expensive player in the mega-auction and the most expensive all-rounder ever being brought in the IPL history. To get him, the team had to let go of several of its top players from the previous season. They have signed veteran players, but their performance in the shorter format may put the franchise in jeopardy. 

Kolkata Knight Riders 2025 IPL Squad: Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Spencer Johnson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Rovman Powell, Ajinkya Rahane, Umran Malik, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Mayank Markande.

10. Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals retained Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, and Sandeep Sharma ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction. Despite losing Jos Buttler, the batting unit appeared rock-solid. Though Shimron Hetmyer is the sole foreign batter, RR's batting is explosive. They needed great T20 all-rounders in the last cycle, which Hasaranga will have to replace.

With Nitish Rana and Riyan Parag doing their work with the bat, they will most likely bowl more than they have before. The absence of a veteran Indian bowler may be a problem. The team appears bleak and mediocre, with no appropriate backup for key players. They overspent on retentions and missed the trick at the auction table. 

Rajasthan Royals 2025 IPL Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma, Jofra Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Nitish Rana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kwena Maphaka, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Akash Madhwal, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh, Kumar Kartikeya, Kunal Rathore, Ashok Sharma.

Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has launched a scathing attack on the five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and also mounted serious accusations of potential auction-fixing charges against former BCCI president N. Srinivasan.

Lalit revealed that the moment he started unraveling his infamous fixing plot, Srinivasan had reportedly turned against him. At present, Lalit has leveled two serious allegations against Srinivasan. 

His first allegation centers around Srinivasan's alleged role in influencing the 2009 mega-auction in which he pressured the other franchises to keep away from Andrew Flintoff. And in his second allegation, Lalit exposes how Srinivasan attempted to influence the outcome of the game in his side's favor by appointing Chennai-based umpires.

Lalit Modi gifts Andrew Flintoff To N Srinivasan (CSK)

In a recent interview, Lalit highlighted how the former BCCI secretary played a key role in manipulating the auction to ensure Andrew Flintoff was picked by CSK only. At Srinivasan's request, Modi confessed that he had advised the other teams secretly not to pick Freddie Flintoff. 

"Pick out everything—auction rigging. I gave Flintoff to Srinivasan. No doubts about it; every team knew about it. Srinivasan wasn’t going to let the IPL happen. He was a thorn in our Board. Yes, we told everybody not to pick ‘Flintoff.’ Yes, that I did—because Srinivasan said he wanted it."

See also: Youngest IPL signee Vaibhav Suryavanshi lands in serious controversy

Manipulation plot to appoint Chennai umpires for home games

If that wasn't enough, Srinivasan went a step further to interfere in yet another aspect of the game. He tried to have Chennai-based umpires officiate the home games for CSK so as to ensure that the critical decisions go in his team's favor. Modi labeled this move as "indirect fixing" in his recent interview and spoke at length on how Srinivasan turned out to be a thorn in his side during the formative years of the cash-rich league.

"At first, I didn’t think much about it. But when I realized he was putting a Chennai umpire on a Chennai game, it became an issue for me. That’s called indirect fixing. When I started exposing those things, he went totally against me. When everybody started going back-to-back, he was also a member of the board. He was a big adversary of mine. I went up against him, and he did many things. Umpire fixing—he accused me of it, and I accused him right back. He would change the umpire."

CSK is one of the most successful teams in the IPL with five title under their belt. Under Dhoni's flamboyant and esteemed leardership the Chennai-based outfit soared to new heights. However, the franchise did come under fire when the world first became aware of its role in match-fixing and was subsequently banned as a result for two years in 2016 and 2017. 

The five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) always start the IPL edition as the favourites. They will surely continue their known and powerful reputation in the upcoming seasons. 

CSK started the IPL 2025 mega auction with the remaining purse value of INR 55 crore after retaining five players, four capped and one uncapped, before the pre-auction retention (officially deducted INR 65 crore). 

While CSK closely missed out on the IPL 2024 playoffs, they will surely want to maintain their top-four finishing consistency in the upcoming seasons with strong and dependable squads. 

In the IPL 2025 mega auction, CSK spend INR 10 crore for the teenage Afghan left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad. CSK brought back their familiar faces like the legend Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Sam Curran, etc, while they used RTM for Rachin Ravindra.

Watch: Fleming and Dravid choose same IPL legend for IPL auction

Pre Auction Retentions

(Capped)

Ruturaj Gaikwad (Indian): INR 18 Crore

Ravindra Jadeja (Indian): INR 18 Crore

Matheesha Pathirana (Sri Lankan): INR 13 Crore

Shivam Dube (Indian): INR 12 Crore

(Uncapped)

MS Dhoni (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Right-to-Match (RTM) card availability for the mega auction

1 capped or 1 uncapped player

Mega Auction Buys

Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 10 crore

Ravichandran Ashwin (Indian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 9.75 crore

Devon Conway (New Zealander): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 6.25 crore

Khaleel Ahmed (Indian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 4.80 crore   

RTM Rachin Ravindra (New Zealander): Base price INR 1.5 crore – Bid won INR 4.00 crore

Anshul Kamboj (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 3.40 crore

Rahul Tripathi (Indian): Base price INR 75 lakh – Bid won INR 3.40 crore

Sam Curran (English): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 2.40 crore

Gurjapneet Singh (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 2.20 crore

Nathan Ellis (Australian): Base price INR 1.25 crore – Bid won INR 2 crore

Deepak Hooda (Indian): Base price INR 75 lakh – Bid won INR 1.70 crore

Jamie Overton (English): Base price INR 1.50 crore – Bid won INR 1.50 crore

Vijay Shankar (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 1.20 crore

Vansh Bedi (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 55 lakh

C Andre Siddarth (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Ramakrishna Ghosh (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Shaik Rasheed (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Mukesh Choudhary (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Shreyas Gopal (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Full Squad

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rasheed, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth.

Best Playing XI

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed

Chennai Super Kings is one such franchise that has enhanced the fame and definition of the Indian Premier League. Being a five-time champions side helmed under the captain cool, MS Dhoni, the Super Kings are prominent for the gameplay and their humongous fanbase. But, they had a forgettable 2024 stint, as they had closely missed qualifying for the playoffs, citing significant issues regarding players' inconsistency and the injury of leading campaigners.

But, with the Mega Auction coming ahead, the Yellove army will get a chance to restructure their team and plan for the long term, as a few of them from the roster will likely play their last in the times ahead. Based on the released retention list and voids present on the side, here is a list of the five players that Chennai Super Kings should try for in the coming 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant should be on the team's player acquisition plans' significant target list. The primary reason behind this would be evident amongst several cricket fanatics. With Mahendra Singh Dhoni possibly playing his last IPL after his cornerstone contributions to the cricketing world, Chennai Super Kings would be eager to acquire the services of an emerging wicketkeeper batter.

Since his IPL inception, Pant has been part of Delhi Capitals for over seven editions, implying his pivotal impact creation for his roster. But, with him parting ways from his career shuttler, it will be intriguing to see if Rishabh Pant would be a part of a team with his idol. After making a stellar comeback from a life-threatening injury, he has made 446 runs in 13 matches, averaging over 41. 

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin has been one of the cornerstones of the Indian spinners ecosystem. But, before making a mark on the International cricket space, Ashwin was a part of the Yellow squad since its inception. He evolved as one of the best spinmeisters across all game formats, especially in the red-ball format.

Though Ashwin has played for four teams, Rajasthan Royals being the recent one, his consistency and intent must be the major USP. Also, with his recent dominance as one of the best bowlers in test cricket, the local boy wouldn't mind returning to the side that has given him all. The Super Kings will target to have an experienced spinner, and he can prove to be their best option. In the previous edition, he had scalped nine wickets in 15 matches at an economy of eight. 

Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar would be one of the players under the Super Kings auction management's auction radar, thanks to his impeccable performance in their recent whitewash campaign by New Zealand, where his spinning efforts went in vain. Many fanatics would vividly remember his batting contributions in the nick of time during the previous 2022 Border-Gavasker Trophy down under.

Sundar, who played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2024, was not retained by his franchise and will be auctioned off. With Chennai retaining Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube ahead of the auction, another all-rounder could do them good. With the side requiring a long-term emerging spinner, Sundar can cater to those needs, and his local roots act as the cherry on top. In 2024, he didn't get a chance to display his calibre and scalped just one wicket in two appearances. 

Also Read: IPL 2025: Top 5 Best Retentions during the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Devon Conway

Devon Conway is seen to be one of the players that the five-time winners may exercise their Right-to-Match (RTM) option or pay big for in the mega auction. The group is recognised for its stability and consistency and has placed a high faith level in its overseas players, with Devon Conway has maintained that tradition.

He missed the IPL 2024 season with a thumb injury, and his absence contributed to the franchise's failure to qualify for the playoffs. The Southern side should be eager to get him back into the auction. In his memorable 2023 stint, he has made a colossal 672 runs in 16 matches, averaging over 49.

Rachin Ravindran

Rachin Ravindra is currently one of the intriguing and emerging stars in world cricket, and he's mainly performed brilliantly in the Indian sub-continent, with his recent performance in the clean sweep India test series and the 2023 World Cup.

A calm demeanour, 24 years of age, a match-winner with the bat, and a handy spinner – all elements of Rachin Ravindra are perfect for the team to acquire him for long-term purposes. Though he had a shaky start in his first IPL appearance, his calibre signifies promise, which the Chennai Super Kings highly need. In 2024, he has made just 220 runs in ten matches, but it will be a terrain of a task for the side as many sides are willing to bid for him in the forthcoming Mega Auction.

The deadline for IPL retentions has been surpassed and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have made the decision to retain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, and MS Dhoni who will now feature as an uncapped player following his international retirement in 2019. This gives them the cushion of a staggering 55 crore in their purse enabling them to recruit a new face in the next IPL season. 

While their attention may be on the star wicket-keeper batter Rishab Pant who is all but released by the Delhi Capitals, the Chennai-based outfit may face stiff competition as other franchises will also be vying to secure his services. In such a scenario, the veteran spin-bowling all-rounder Ravi Ashwin emerges as a likely candidate who CSK could be after in this mega auction. The 38-year-old was a key figure in the CSk squad before parting ways in 2015. 

A potential return on the cards for Ravi Ashwin

According to emerging reports, Ashwin made a startling confession to play for his old franchise Chennai Super Kings. Ashwin was previously associated with the Yellow Brigade since the inception of IPL in 2008. During his formative years, CSK played a pivotal role in shaping his professional cricketing career. He evolved as a player under the leadership of MS Dhoni and was primarily responsible for driving the dominance of the franchise in the early 2010s.

Ashwin has claimed an astonishing 120 wickets for the CSK at a very competitive average of 23.7 between the period of 2009 and 2015. He is the third-highest wicket-taker for CSK in the IPL and is more than a handy customer with the bat lower down the order. Ashwin’s addition to the CSK squad can certainly bolster CSK’s spin bowling department. The off-spinner can operate in tandem with Ravindra Jadeja to wreak havoc on the batters on a spin-friendly Chennai pitch. 

Furthermore, the report suggests that CSK is likely to utilize their Right to Match (RTM) card for the experienced New Zealand opener, Devon Conway. The left-handed batsman has delivered commendable performances for the Chennai franchise, accumulating 924 runs at an impressive average of 48.63 and a strike rate of 141.28.

Ravindra Jadeja's journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a tale of consistency and impact, marked by his evolution into a premier all-rounder and a core player for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Starting his IPL career with Rajasthan Royals, Jadeja has come a long way, cementing his place in CSK since 2013 and becoming a vital cog in their lineup. His influence on the field is undeniable—whether it's with the bat, ball, or his electrifying fielding, Jadeja’s all-round abilities have made him a match-winner and a fan favorite. His contributions have been instrumental in CSK's success over the years, and he has often delivered in crucial moments, making him a go-to player for captain MS Dhoni.

As a bowler, Jadeja’s stats showcase his effectiveness, particularly in the middle overs, where he has been exceptionally reliable. Across 211 IPL matches, Jadeja has bowled 638.1 overs, conceding 4,864 runs and claiming 160 wickets with an impressive economy of 7.62. In the middle overs alone, he has bowled 529.5 overs, taken 125 wickets at an economy of 7.41, and maintained a strong strike rate of 25.4. His ability to contain runs and take crucial wickets during these key phases of the game has made him invaluable for CSK, effectively building pressure on the opposition. Jadeja’s consistency, coupled with his knack for breaking partnerships, has solidified his reputation as one of the most dependable spinners in IPL history.

See Also: Should SRH Retain Klaasen for ₹23 Crore? A Worthy Investment?

Does Jadeja’s Performance Justify an ₹18 Crore Retention?

Ravindra Jadeja, often hailed as one of the most versatile all-rounders in modern cricket, has had a storied career that encapsulates the essence of adaptability and skill. His recent performance statistics provide a window into his contributions to the Indian cricket team. With 30 innings under his belt, Jadeja has taken 28 wickets at an average of 27.11 and an economy rate of 7.51. While these figures might not place him at the very top of the bowling charts, they tell a story of consistent performance, especially in high-pressure situations.

In the realm of limited-overs cricket, Jadeja has evolved into a key player for India, not just with the ball but also as a lower-order batsman. His ability to turn games around with crucial partnerships and aggressive batting has made him a valuable asset. Despite a strike rate of 21.64 and 39 fours and 32 sixes, his batting is often overshadowed by his bowling prowess. Nonetheless, his all-round capabilities provide the Indian team with a balanced attack, allowing for flexibility in both batting and bowling departments.

When analyzing his bowling style, Jadeja stands out for his accuracy and control. With a dot ball percentage of 29.87, he demonstrates an ability to build pressure on opposing batsmen, forcing them into making mistakes. His experience and tactical acumen on the field make him a formidable opponent, capable of breaking partnerships at critical junctures. This attribute is invaluable in T20 and ODI formats, where matches can pivot on single deliveries.

Jadeja's contributions extend beyond mere numbers; they include his fielding prowess, often hailed as one of the best in the world. His athleticism and sharp reflexes add another layer to his all-round capabilities. A match-winner in his own right, Jadeja's presence on the field inspires confidence in his teammates and instills fear in his opponents. His ability to impact games across formats has made him a lynchpin for the Indian cricket team.

Given his track record, the question arises: is Ravindra Jadeja worth ₹18 crore? The answer seems to be an emphatic yes. Jadeja's overall impact on the game—combined with his impressive statistics, leadership qualities, and ability to perform under pressure—justifies his price tag. In a cricketing landscape where all-rounders hold immense value, Jadeja's skills make him an essential component of any team, reinforcing the belief that he is worth every penny of his contract.

See Also: Tony de Zorzi Powers South Africa's Steady March Toward the WTC Finals