As always, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have a unique approach for the Indian Premier League auction. The IPL Mega Auction ahead of the 2025 season was no exception for them. CSK is a team that understands what it wants and has won five championships convincingly.

Following a disappointing IPL 2024 season, CSK will look to rebound and display their capabilities with their gathered roster. Before the auction, CSK retained five players: MS Dhoni, Shivam Dube, Rituraj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, and Matheesha Pathirana. CSK has a rich roster of trustworthy domestic and overseas players. That said, here is a list of the two strengths and a weakness of the 2025 Chennai Super Kings side. 

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.

2 Strengths:

Perfect Spinners for Chepauk Conditions

CSK boasts one of the best spin units. With the Chennai pitch predicted to help spinmeisters, CSK will field three spinners and strangle the opposition batters. All three spinners differ from one another, which adds variation. Ravichandran Ashwin, who last played for CSK in 2015, returns to the team after stints with Punjab, Delhi, and Rajasthan.

Ravindra Jadeja has been a consistent performer for CSK as an efficient bowler. Finally, former Gujarat Titans spinner Noor Ahmad was purchased for a whopping INR 10 crores. The emerging Afghan spin has 137 T20 scalps averaging at 23.08. So CSK will rely on 12 excellent overs of spin in Chennai to challenge visiting teams on slow tracks.

Emerging and underdog batting lineup

The five-time IPL winners' batting assault is another significant advantage that the Men in Yellow will be eager to utilise to the utmost. Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad are a reliable starting pair, with Rachin Ravindra serving as Conway's backup, and their recent play has been impressive. However, considering CSK's reliance on Indian pacers, Rachin Ravindra, a spin allrounder, might step in at number three.

This means Rahul Tripathi will play fourth, with Shivam Dube at fifth. The top four or five are CSK's best and will be relied on heavily. Dube, in particular, has a role to play and is well-known for his tremendous and swashbuckling hits. And, of course, not to forget our vintage and massy mid-order batting display by Thala, a.k.a, MS Dhoni.

1 Weakness:

Lack of reliable and backup allrounder, hindering the mid and lower-order

CSK stunned everyone when signing Vijay Shankar and Deepak Hooda. Despite their expertise, they never seemed to hit the ground running in the IPL. Deepak Hooda and Vijay Shankar can be regarded as CSK's mediocre buy. Overall, both allrounders are solid but not exceptional, but only time will tell if they will unleash their finest performance.

As a result, their lower-order batting lacks quality and experience. It is a paper-thin batting. If Dhoni has fitness difficulties, CSK would struggle in the finishing area. This would compel them to play Overton or Curran, making Rachin Ravindra make his way out of the Playing XI arsenal.

Noor Ahmad, a promising spinner, has been handed a one-year ban from participating in ILT20 due to a breach of contract. This action was taken by the International League T20 after finding the young cricketer guilty of contractual violations. Initially part of the Sharjah Warriors in the league’s inaugural season, Ahmad was offered a contract extension by the franchise but declined to sign the necessary papers, leading to subsequent repercussions.

In response to Ahmad’s refusal to extend his contract, the Sharjah Warriors brought the matter to the attention of the tournament’s governing body, prompting an investigation into the issue. The three-member Disciplinary Committee of the International League T20, consisting of Chief Executive Officer David White, Col.

Contractual Controversy: Noor Ahmad’s Ban from ILT20

Azam, and Zayed Abbas, meticulously reviewed the case, engaging with both the Sharjah Warriors management and Noor Ahmad himself. Following a comprehensive examination of all available evidence, the committee concluded that Ahmad was in violation of his contractual obligations, resulting in a 12-month ban being imposed on him.

While deliberating on the duration of the ban, the committee initially contemplated a 20-month suspension. However, it came to light that Ahmad was a minor at the time of signing the contract, and his agent had failed to adequately inform him about the terms and conditions therein. Consequently, 8 months were deducted from the original ban period, resulting in the final one-year suspension.

Cricketing Journey Continues: Ahmad’s Path Beyond the Ban

Despite this setback, Ahmad is set to continue his cricketing journey, as he has been signed by the Gujarat Titans for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2024 season. At just 19 years of age, Ahmad has already made his mark in various T20 leagues worldwide, representing teams such as the Comilla Victorians, Durban’s Super Giants, Melbourne Renegades, Quetta Gladiators, and Trinbago Knight Riders.

His impressive record boasts 87 wickets in 82 T20 matches, with an average of 24.93 and an economy rate of 7.27, showcasing his potential as a valuable asset in the fast-paced world of T20 cricket.

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