IPL25
Follow UsAfter narrowly missing out on a playoff spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s men hope to turn their form around, starting with IPL 2025. That’s where the auction becomes crucial, as CSK has nailed down its strategies to pick up vital overseas players.
Unfortunately, the IPL rules only allow four overseas players, which is where the tricky part arises: Who will be the four overseas players?
While Devon Conway might have had a dip in international cricket over the past year, he might still be one of the key players for CSK at the top of the order. The left-hander has two full seasons of IPL experience, where he has amassed 924 runs, averaging 48.63 and striking at 141.28.
His consistency and explosiveness at the top of the order could help Ruturaj Gaikwad, too, with the duo putting on 849 runs as a batting pair, the third-best for any batting pair in IPL since 2023. It could end CSK’s opening woes from IPL 2024, where Ravindra-Gaikwad could only score 187 runs as a batting pair.
Considering that CSK always prefer plenty of all-rounders, Sam Curran could fill that void from last year, playing the role of a batting all-rounder who can contribute with the ball. The left-handed batter scored 546 runs over the last two IPL seasons, averaging 27.3, striking at nearly 130.
He’s also picked up 16 wickets with the ball last season, averaging 26, which could make him a starter. CSK can use him as a floater in the batting unit and a death-over specialist with the ball.
Since being picked as a base price pick, Matheesha Pathirana has been the crown jewel of CSK’s bowling unit. The 22-year-old has taken the IPL by surprise with his slingy action and has mastered the ability to nail yorkers at free will.
Pathirana is an integral part of CSK’s setup, with 34 IPL wickets and an average of 17.41. Because his bowling action is mysterious, and the ball's release dips late, he will be CSK’s first-choice pick.
CSK surprised many people by going hard for the 19-year-old Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad at INR 10 crore, beating Gujarat Titans’ bid. The left-arm wrist spinner was one of the breakout stars in GT’s 2023 campaign, where they narrowly lost the final against CSK with 16 wickets in the series.
While he didn’t quite maintain that form in 2024, where he picked up eight wickets, he will walk into CSK’s home setup, considering how the conditions at the Chepauk Stadium are extremely spin-friendly.
