Ayush Mhatre, a 17-year-old cricketer from Mumbai, has just been picked to step in for Ruturaj Gaikwad in IPL 2025. Gaikwad, who was set to lead the Chennai Super Kings this season, had to bow out because of a right elbow injury. With CSK not really finding their footing at the top order, it seems they’ve turned to this young and aggressive opener to shake things up.
CSK’s management has had their eyes on Ayush since the IPL 2025 auction, and they even called him in for a trial recently. They liked what they saw, and now he’s officially on board for 30 Lakhs this season. It’s a well-deserved reward for his solid performances in domestic cricket for Mumbai.
While another opener, Prithvi Shaw, was also considered after Gaikwad’s injury, he’s not been in good standing lately due to some off-field issues that keep cropping up. So it sounds like Ayush is the right choice for the team right now.
When it comes to his performance, Ayush has been doing quite well in first-class and List A formats. He’s racked up 504 runs in 16 first-class innings, boasting two centuries, and he’s matched that in List A cricket as well with another couple of tons. His skills should definitely bring some extra firepower to CSK’s batting lineup, helping them out in what has been a tough season so far.
He’s expected to join the team just in time for their match against Mumbai Indians on April 20. Fans and teammates alike will be eager to see how he performs on such a big stage. It’s exciting to see a young talent like Ayush getting this chance to showcase his abilities!