In the world of cricket, Few names command the kind of respect and admiration that  Mahendra Singh Dhoni. From his unflappable personality to his transformative leadership, Dhoni's impact on the game is permanent. Though fans and analysts have speculated over when he will retire from the IPL, there are those who just want to see him play on. One of them is Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson.

"Thoda Aur" – A Sentiment of Millions:
Speaking to the media, Sanju Samson explained, "Whenever people say Dhoni should retire from IPL, I only think 'Thoda Aur' for Dhoni. And this "Thoda Aur" (a little more) has become a catchphrase for what millions of cricket fans feel about the former Indian captain

Not just admiration for an individual, but also echoing the sentiment of an entire generation having grown up watching Dhoni the masterstrokes he played. Whether it’s his helicopter shots, strategic captaincy, or ability to absorb pressure, Dhoni’s aura in the IPL is nothing but magical.

SANJU 🤝 DHONI...!!!!!

- Sanju said "Whenever people say that Dhoni should retire from the IPL, I always feel 'Thoda Aur' for Dhoni". [PTI]

A Fanboy moment by Samson 🤍 pic.twitter.com/nI8GKa7tV7

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 19, 2025

Beyond the Numbers – The Dhoni Impact:

MS Dhoni continues to be the cornerstone for CSK even at 42. He might not be batting as often as before, but just having him in the dressing room and on the field makes his teammates feel a lot more confident. His game awareness, calm decision making, and unparalleled experience make him an irreplaceable asset.

Samson, who has battled Dhoni both as an opponent and as a wicketkeeper-batsman himself, knows well the amount of fire Dhoni carries. * “You don’t measure Dhoni’s influence in stats. trainer, so he has that belief that is in short supply in the game, he added

Also Read:If Cricket Were WWE: Who Would Be the Ultimate Heel and Babyface?

A Legacy That Refuses to Fade:

Dhoni is one of the most talked about players when it comes to retirement yet he has not bowed down to anyone yet. With each six he smashes and each spine-stinging stumping he executes, he reminds the world why he is considered one of the best the game has ever seen.

Sanju Samson’s “Thoda Aur” sentiment isn’t just about extending Dhoni’s career, it’s about paying tribute to his greatness, a recognition of the irreplaceable aura of the legend. And as long as Dhoni continues to step onto the field, million of fans, including his fellow cricketers, will come continues to hope for "Thoda Aur Dhoni" in the IPL.

Chennai Super Kings Home Ground – Chepauk Stadium

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) call the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) their home. Known for its spin-friendly conditions and passionate CSK fanbase, this stadium has been a fortress for the team over the years.

Recent Matches Played by CSK at Chepauk

• IPL 2024 Qualifier 2: RR vs SRH – SRH won by 36 runs.
• IPL 2024 League Match: CSK vs RR –  CSK won by 5 wickets
• IPL 2024 Final: KKR vs SRH – KKR won by 8 wickets.

Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2025 Home Matches at Chepauk

How to Buy Tickets for CSK Matches at Chepauk

ALSO SEE :  IPL 2025 full schedule date time venues and complete details

Online Booking:

• Tickets will be available on BookMyShow, PayTM Insider, and the CSK official website.
• Choose your match, pick your seats, and make the payment.

Offline Purchase:

• Available at the Chepauk Stadium box office and select ticket counters in Chennai.

Ticket Prices (Estimated):

• ₹800 - ₹2000 (General Stands)
• ₹2500 - ₹5000 (Premium Stands)
• ₹10,000+ (VIP & Corporate Boxes)

Since CSK matches at Chepauk are always sold out, securing your tickets early is crucial!

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will compete in IPL 2025, starting their campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 23 at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.

• Founded: 2008
• Home Ground: M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
•  Owner: India Cements (Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd.)
•  Captain (2025): Ruturaj Gaikwad
•  Most Iconic Captain: MS Dhoni (2008–2023)
•  Head Coach (2025): Stephen Fleming

Total titles won:

IPL SCHUDULE:

• 23rd March: vs MI in Chennai (Sunday, Match 3)
• 28th March: vs RCB in Chennai (Friday, Match 8)
• 30th March: vs RR in Guwahati (Sunday, Match 11)
• 5th April: vs DC in Chennai (Saturday, Match 17)
• 8th April: vs PBKS in Mullanpur (Tuesday, Match 22)
• 11th April: vs KKR in Chennai (Friday, Match 25)
• 14th April: vs LSG in Lucknow (Monday, Match 30)
• 20th April: vs MI in Mumbai (Sunday, Match 38)
• 25th April: vs SRH in Chennai (Friday, Match 43)
• 30th April: vs PBKS in Chennai (Wednesday, Match 49)
• 3rd May: vs RCB in Bengaluru (Saturday, Match 52)
• 7th May: vs KKR in Kolkata (Wednesday, Match 57)
• 12th May: vs RR in Chennai (Monday, Match 63)
• 18th May: vs GT in Ahmedabad (Sunday, Match 69)

CSK SCHEDULE IN IPL 2025: 🏆 pic.twitter.com/b6VjKjm0v2

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 16, 2025

ALSO READ:IPL 2025 full schedule date time venues and complete details

Full squad:

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is the most highly anticipated cricket league all over the world. With major teams and cricket players participating to win the glamorous trophy, IPL 2025 will be a thrilling season.

• Organizer: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
• Edition: 18th season of IPL
• Total Teams: 10
• Match Format: T20 (20 overs per side)
• Number of Matches: Expected to be around 74
• Venues: Multiple cities across India
• Start Date: March 22
• Final Date:  May 25
• Official Broadcasters: Star Sports, JioHotstar (for digital streaming)

Participating Teams in ipl 2025

1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) - Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
2. Mumbai Indians (MI) - Captain: Hardik Pandya
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) - Captain: Rajat Patidar
4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - Captain: TBD
5. Delhi Capitals (DC) - Captain: TBD
6. Rajasthan Royals (RR) - Captain: Sanju Samson
7. Punjab Kings (PBKS) - Captain: Shreyas Iyer
8. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) - Captain: Pat Cummins
9. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) - Captain: Rishabh Pant
10. Gujarat Titans (GT) - Captain: Shubman Gill

IPL 2025 SCHEDULE:

• 22-Mar-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Kolkata)
• 23-Mar-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals (Hyderabad)
• 23-Mar-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians (Chennai)
• 24-Mar-25 (Mon) 7:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants (Visakhapatnam)
• 25-Mar-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings (Ahmedabad)
• 26-Mar-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Guwahati)
• 27-Mar-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants (Hyderabad)
• 28-Mar-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Chennai)
• 29-Mar-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians (Ahmedabad)
• 30-Mar-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Visakhapatnam)
• 30-Mar-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings (Guwahati)
• 31-Mar-25 (Mon) 7:30 PM - Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Mumbai)

APRIL:

• 01-Apr-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings (Lucknow)
• 02-Apr-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans (Bengaluru)
• 03-Apr-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Kolkata)
• 04-Apr-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians (Lucknow)
• 05-Apr-25 (Sat) 3:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals (Chennai)
• 05-Apr-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals (New Chandigarh)
• 06-Apr-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants (Kolkata)
• 06-Apr-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans (Hyderabad)
• 07-Apr-25 (Mon) 7:30 PM - Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Mumbai)
• 08-Apr-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings (New Chandigarh)
• 09-Apr-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals (Ahmedabad)
• 10-Apr-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals (Bengaluru)
• 11-Apr-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Chennai)
• 12-Apr-25 (Sat) 3:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans (Lucknow)
• 12-Apr-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings (Hyderabad)
• 13-Apr-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Jaipur)
• 13-Apr-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians (Delhi)
• 15-Apr-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals (Lucknow)
• 16-Apr-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (New Chandigarh)
• 17-Apr-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans (Delhi)
• 18-Apr-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Mumbai)
• 19-Apr-25 (Sat) 3:30 PM - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings (Bengaluru)
• 19-Apr-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals (Ahmedabad)
• 20-Apr-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants (Jaipur)
• 20-Apr-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (New Chandigarh)
• April 20, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings (Mumbai)
• April 21, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Gujarat Titans (Kolkata)
• April 22, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Lucknow Super Giants vs. Delhi Capitals (Lucknow)
• April 23, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Mumbai Indians (Hyderabad)
• April 24, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Rajasthan Royals (Bengaluru)
• April 25, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Chennai Super Kings vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (Chennai)
• April 26, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Punjab Kings (Kolkata)
• April 27, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Lucknow Super Giants (Mumbai)
• April 28, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Delhi Capitals vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Delhi)
• April 29, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Rajasthan Royals vs. Gujarat Titans (Jaipur)
• April 30, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Delhi Capitals vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (Delhi)

MAY:

• May 1, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Chennai Super Kings vs. Punjab Kings (Chennai)
• May 2, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Rajasthan Royals vs. Mumbai Indians (Jaipur)
• May 3, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Gujarat Titans vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (Ahmedabad)
• May 4, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans (Bengaluru)
• May 5, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Rajasthan Royals (Kolkata)
• May 6, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Punjab Kings vs. Lucknow Super Giants (Dharamsala)
• May 7, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Delhi Capitals (Hyderabad)
• May 8, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Gujarat Titans (Mumbai)
• May 9, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Chennai Super Kings (Kolkata)
• May 10, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Punjab Kings vs. Delhi Capitals (Dharamsala)
• May 11, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Lucknow Super Giants vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Lucknow)
• May 12, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (Hyderabad)
• May 13, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians (Dharamsala)
• May 14, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Delhi Capitals vs. Gujarat Titans (Delhi)
• May 15, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Chennai Super Kings vs. Rajasthan Royals (Chennai)
• May 16, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (Bengaluru)
• May 17, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Gujarat Titans vs. Lucknow Super Giants (Ahmedabad)
• May 18, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Delhi Capitals (Mumbai)
• May 19, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Rajasthan Royals vs. Punjab Kings (Jaipur)
• May 20, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (Bengaluru)
• May 21, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Qualifier 1 (Ahmedabad)
• May 22, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Eliminator (Hyderabad)
• May 24, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Qualifier 2 (Kolkata)
• May 25, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Final (Kolkata)

IPL 2025 Highest Auction:

• Rishabh Pant:27 cr
• Shreyas Iyer:26.75
• Venkatesh Iyer:23.75
• Vaibhav Suryavanshi:1.1(Debue)

Major Highlights of 2025:

• Impact Player Rule Refining: The 2023 IPL rule is set to be made more flexible with modifications to include more strategic substitution.
  
• Venue Expansion: New locations can be incorporated into the host venue list to increase IPL's fan base all over India.
  
• DRS Rule Improvements: Enhanced technology and more review choices can be implemented to reduce errors made by umpires.
  
• Focus on Emerging Players: Franchises are acquiring young players with development programs and scouting programs.
  
• Salary Cap Hike: The BCCI is likely to hike the purse limit of franchises so that larger bids are possible in auctions.

ALSO READ:CSK vs MI at Chepauk: The Ultimate IPL Rivalry Set for March 23?

IPL 2025 SQUADS:

RCB: Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee, and Suyash Sharma.

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

KKR:Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Pannu, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Josh Inglis, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur.

MI:Hardik Pandya (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Bevon-John Jacobs, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Naman Dhir, Vignesh Puthur, Robin Minz, Ryan Rickelton, Shrijith Krishnan, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, Lizaad Williams, Arjun Tendulkar, Karn Sharma, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ashwani Kumar, Satyanarayana Raju.

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

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

PBKS:Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Pannu, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Josh Inglis, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur.

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

LSG:Rishabh Pant (Captain), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Aryan Juyal, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Arshin Kulkarni, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, M Siddharth, Akash Deep.

GT:Shubman Gill (Captain), Jos Buttler, Sherfane Rutherford, Glenn Phillips, B. Sai Sudharsan, M. Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Mahipal Lomror, Jayant Yadav, Karim Janat, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, M. Prasidh Krishna, Gerald Coetzee, R. Sai Kishore, Ishant Sharma.

CSK vs MI has been a blockbuster rivalry in the IPL all along. Whether it is the masterful leadership of MS Dhoni or the muscle-loaded team of Mumbai, each of their matches is filled with intense competition and electrifying action. Both teams have a glorious history, with CSK having won five IPL titles and MI also having five championships to their credit.

Why it Matters MI vsCSK?

• Home Advantage for CSK: Chepauk has been a fort of Chennai all this while, with the slow and turning nature of the track playing in favor of spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Maheesh Theekshana, and CSK may enjoy an overwhelming advantage.
• MI's Challenge: Knoen for it batting and bowling balance, it will a intersting to see how big teams battle each other, with their most underestimate sides take it.
• Fan's : MI and CSK , fans are the very huge and it will be powerhouse match to them in their crazy view.

🚨 CHENNAI vs MUMBAI AT CHEPAUK 🚨

- Chennai Super Kings is likely to host Mumbai Indians on March 23rd, Sunday. [Espn Cricinfo] pic.twitter.com/7pkRsb9kfK

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 15, 2025

A confirmation on the match :

Earlier it was also reported that the new season of the IPL will begin on March 22nd when RCB will face KKR. That implies, that there would be only 12 days between the Champions Trophy Final and the first IPL 2025 match. Furthermore, the Gujarat Titans, will host their first home game on March 25th at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

ALSO SEE :IPL 2025 SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENT: Full Details, Teams, and Updates

Also, worth noting is the fact that, this much-awaited game will not only witness two of the most successful IPL teams match up against each other, but it will also witness the long-awaited return of MS Dhoni. Regarding mumbai Indians, fans will be eagerly anticipating Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav.
Since both sides possess superlative batting-lineup, this match can be anticipated to be anything but a dashing spectacle.

IPL 2025 is more than a month away, but the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered a major blow, as New Zealand cricketer Rachin Ravindra suffered a serious injury just before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

During the ODI tri-series opener against the hosts Pakistan in Lahore last Saturday (February 8) evening, New Zealand cricketer Rachin Ravindra got a massive blow on his face with the ball and was heavily bleeding on the field. He is still under the medical team's watch, and his participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is doubtful. 

While Ravindra’s injury status will be known later, he is in danger of missing IPL 2025, especially if he needs more time to heal from the injury. If Ravindra remains absent from the IPL 2025, CSK can watch out among the following three players as the New Zealander’s replacement. 

IPL 2025, Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Top three players who can replace injured Rachin Ravindra

Ben Duckett (IPL 2025 Auction Base Price: INR 2 Crore)

As Rachin Ravindra plays the top-order batting role, the 30-year-old English cricketer Ben Duckett can be a strong replacement name as a left-handed batter. In the latest England tour of India, Duckett has proved his value as an opening batter as he likes to dominate in the powerplay. While CSK have some strong names in the middle order, Duckett can make the team stronger with his top-order batting commitment. Duckett is yet to make his IPL debut.

See Also: Former CSK star eyeing Test comeback after maintaining stunning form in domestic cricket

Mohammad Nabi (IPL 2025 Auction Base Price: INR 2 Crore)

The 40-year-old Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi brings huge experience and high-quality all-rounder values to any team. The right-handed batter is a clever hitter and always effective as an off-spinner. From 2017 to 2024, Nabi played 24 IPL matches serving for SunRisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians, where he scored 215 runs and picked up 15 wickets. 

Daryl Mitchell (IPL 2025 Auction Base Price: INR 2 Crore)

The 33-year-old New Zealand cricketer Daryl Mitchell is popular for his big-hitting abilities in the slog overs. While the right-handed batter is a powerful middle-order, he can also deliver the right-arm medium-pace bowling. He is also a great fielder. After playing for Rajasthan Royals in two matches in the IPL 2022, Mitchell played 13 matches for CSK last season. In his IPL career, he has scored 351 runs and taken one wicket in 15 games.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has given cricketing fans the most thrilling moments that have occurred in the game of cricket. Throughout the years, the tournament has witnessed the highest level of performance, dramatic finish, and some unforgettable events, which make it the largest T20 league around the globe. These are what have molded the IPL to be the current version it has become today. Without these moments, the tournament would never have been what it is. Let's take a peek at the top 10 most memorable moments in IPL history

1. Brendon McCullum 158 – Start Something Big (2008)
The journey of IPL started in the year 2008 with the first match played between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). On that very first day, Brendon McCullum played one of the greatest T20 innings ever, hitting 158 off just 73 balls*. The way he hit with 13 sixes, announced the arrival of IPL in style. It was a match which proved that this league was going to change cricket forever.

2. Rajasthan Royals' Fairy Tale Title Win (2008)

People did not expect Rajasthan Royals to win the first season of IPL. They had no topnotch players in their side and were overlooked as dark horses. But under the mesmerizing captaincy of Shane Warne, they shocked everybody and bagged the IPL 2008 title. Their win went forth to prove that IPL was much more than a league for superstars and heroes. 

3. Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings – The Rivalry Begins (2010 Final)
IPL was to see the greatest rivalry being shaped in the year 2010 when CSK, captained by the great MS Dhoni, came out victorious by defeating Mumbai Indians in the very first IPL title. Since that match, there has been the legendary rivalry being the biggest draw in the Indian Premier League, even to date.

4. Chris Gayle 175 – the greatest knock ever in IPL History (2013)
Chris Gayle reminded everyone why he is called the "Universe Boss," hitting a record-breaking 175 off 66 balls for RCB against Pune Warriors India. His innings still stands as the highest individual score in IPL history, featuring 17 sixes. Pure power-hitting and no one had anything else to say but look on in a

5. RCB v/s SRH – The IPL Final Thriller of 2016
One of the closest and thrilling IPL finals was witnessed between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2016 final. With David Warner's brilliant knock leading SRH, the score rose to 208/7, while RCB got a fine start through Kohli and Gayle's opening stand, although it eventually collapsed to only reach 8 runs short. To date, the match stands among one of IPL's most painful losses for Royal Challengers' fans.

6. Virat Kohli’s Magical 973-Run Season (2016)
It was a season that will forever be about Virat Kohli in 2016, scoring 973 runs, four centuries included. Although the RCB failed to bring home the title, it will remain as one of the best seasons of all time for IPL.

7. The Mankading Debate – Ashwin vs. Buttler (2019)
Perhaps one of the most controversial moments for IPL 2019 was when Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Jos Buttler by 'Mankading' him - running out the non-striker before delivering the ball. This act gave rise to huge debate on whether it was against the "spirit of cricket." Some people agreed with Ashwin's decision, while others believed it was not fair.

8. The Closest IPL Final Ever – Mumbai Indians Win by 1 Run (2019)
It was the most thrilling final of IPL history between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in 2019. CSK required two runs from the last ball, but Lasith Malinga threw a perfect yorker to get Shardul Thakur, and Mumbai won by just 1 run! This was the closest IPL final in history, and MI took home their fourth IPL trophy

ALSO READ:WATCH:Shaheen Afridi Gets Babar Azam Out for Zero in Practice Match

9. Two Super Overs in One Match – A First in Cricket (2020)
For the first time ever in IPL 2020, a league stage match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab-now Punjab Kings-reached history when it ended level. The teams were tied again in the Super Over. More incredibly, that too was leveled! This again meant another Super Over, an event that has never occurred before in cricket history. Punjab ultimately won, but this match was one of IPL's most dramatic encounters.

10. Kohli vs. Gambhir – The Heated Clash (2023)
Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir had the biggest on-field argy-bargy between each other that became a point of discussion of this IPL 2023 where there was an ongoing match between RCB and LSG, wherein the mouth chatter turned to become a fight by the entire playing and the umpiring fraternity getting in. A heated exchange like this only served to make memories of a former IPL clashes which the passionate rivals had during previous IPL games making the League look more interesting.

IPL 2025 to Begin on March 23: BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla Confirms

The Indian Premier League's 18th season is starting on March 23, 2025, and everyone's very happy about it. Cricket fans all over the world are very happy because of the announcement from BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla. They're preparing for more exciting T20 cricket matches.

Key Dates and Schedule

The IPL 2025 is set for March 23 we're getting 74 matches. They're keeping things the same as before so that players don't become overloaded and fans have a lot of enjoyment. After two full months of cricket fun, everything wraps up with the final game on May 25.

#WATCH | Mumbai: BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla says, "Devajit Saikia elected new BCCI secretary and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia elects as BCCI treasurer...IPL is going to start from 23rd March..." pic.twitter.com/Jd6x7U8Hou

— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2025

Venue and Broadcasting Updates

The league will keep up with its tradition and hold matches in several different cities. This helps bring the major cricket event closer to fans. They're planning to have the tournament in India, and the matches are going to be in famous stadiums in cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Delhi, and some others. Unfortunately, they have not informed us the exact match schedule and where each game will be played, though.

This season's broadcasts will not be the same because Viacom18 and Star India merged and now they say their name is Jiostar. Because of the new setup, when people watch the IPL, which is already the top cricket league in the world, it's going to be much nicer. They're bringing in marvelously novel technology and going deeper into the games, so fans should prepare for something unique.

ALSO READ:Jemimah Rodrigues' Maiden Century and India's Record-Breaking ODI Triumph Against Ireland

IPL 2025 Auction: New Look Teams After Mega Auction in Jeddah

The player-auction for the IPL 2025, which took place in November. It happened over two days in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where 182 players found new teams for a hefty total of Rs 639.15 crore. First, the 10 teams made sure to hold onto their important players then, they had the sincere intention to strengthen drastically their lineups by adding a combo of seasoned professionals and fresh, exciting rookies.This event brought significant changes to how the teams look.

Auction Highlights and Key Players

The main key news at the auction was Rishabh Pant setting a new record by being sold for a very high price of Rs 27 crore, making him the priciest player the IPL has ever seen. Right behind him, Shreyas Iyer went for Rs 26.75 crore, and Venkatesh Iyer wasn't far off with a sale at Rs 23.75 crore. Mostly, the bidding war was apparently concentrated on two main groups of players, and a portion of the largest names in the industry ended up getting very large offers.

Teams moved forward fighting for the best cricketers during the auction. Several new players joined the IPL now, making the auction unfathomably intense and memorable. Many teams spent a lot of money, even going above their budget, to acquire major-name players, including some who had a good run with the teams they played for before.

But the auction had some unexpected moments too. Major names such as David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, and Shardul Thakur didn't attract any offers, surprising everyone. This made the auction even more unpredictable and exciting.

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 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