Follow UsAyush Mhatre was slotted in the Chennai Super Kings squad after skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad had to leave due to an injury in the middle of the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, despite not being in the team right from the start, Mhatre has impressed everyone with his brilliant stroke play and maturity at just 17.
The youngster who has already debuted at the senior domestic level for Mumbai scored a 15-ball 32 on IPL debut against Mumbai Indians, and then followed it with a 19-ball 30 against Hyderabad. Yesterday, May 4, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Chinnaswamy, he scored 94 sublime runs off just 48 deliveries.
CSK head coach Stephen Fleming, who earlier said that the team needs to work on its strategy in the auction, was greatly impressed by Mhatre's performance in a high-profile game. He said that the batter, who is still to come of age, already has all the makings of a great modern-day T20 player.
"He's got talent. He's got hand-eye coordination. He's got a beautiful, silky swing. He's aggressive. Everything that we like about a modern-day T20 player,” Fleming said.
“But, to me, it's the temperament and being able to execute in a trial and then on the big stage. That's what I'm most impressed with.
"It's one thing to have a lot of shots, but to be able to execute that game plan on a big stage in front of some of the biggest players in the world is what I admire."
Fleming also added that Mhatre was an automatic fit in the CSK camp, and having some of his teammates from the Mumbai side, like Shivam Dube, helped him ease into the IPL setup. The coach believed that it may be the start of a long relationship between the youngster and CSK.
"We have a pretty relaxed camp, which has always been our style. He has some team-mates [from Mumbai] on the side. [Shivam] Dube, is one that has seen a fair bit of him," Fleming said.
"Again, it comes back to his maturity. He fitted in seamlessly. It's often not what the team around him does, but it's just the way that he behaves. He was very comfortable right from day one and the team was very comfortable with him. Hopefully, it's the start of a long relationship."