Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have roped in Mumbai’s promising young batter Ayush Mhatre as a replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been ruled out of the IPL 2025 season due to a fractured elbow.
Gaikwad sustained the injury after being struck on the elbow during CSK’s clash against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30. Despite the blow, he featured in two subsequent matches — against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings on April 5 and 8. However, ahead of the April 11 game versus Kolkata Knight Riders, an MRI scan confirmed the fracture, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
According to Cricbuzz, the five-time IPL champions finalised Ayush’s signing on Saturday, April 13. The 17-year-old had listed himself at a base price of INR 30 lakh in the IPL 2025 mega auction but went unsold.
“He will join the squad in Mumbai in a couple of days,” a source close to the CSK camp told Cricbuzz.
Ayush, who debuted in domestic cricket just last year, has quickly made a name for himself. CSK called him up for a mid-season trial held in Chennai alongside Salman Nizar and Urvil Patel, but it was Ayush who stood out. Despite the availability of experienced names like Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw, CSK opted for the dynamic teenager.
Impressive Ayush bags IPL deal
Although Ayush is yet to feature in a T20 match, his domestic record is impressive. In nine first-class games, he has amassed 504 runs, including two centuries and a half-century. His List A numbers are even more striking — 458 runs in seven matches at an average of 65.42 and a strike rate of 135.50. He made headlines with a blistering 181 off 117 balls, becoming the youngest player ever to score 150+ in men’s List A cricket.
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At CSK, Ayush will reunite with Andre Siddarth, his teammate from India’s U19 Asia Cup squad last year.
CSK, meanwhile, find themselves in troubled waters this season. With just one win in six games, they’ve suffered five defeats and are desperate to avoid a sixth consecutive loss when they face Lucknow Super Giants on April 14 in Lucknow.
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