“Has he caught it? Yes he has! Matthe Hayden has done very very little of note in the last few games in the IPL and now he plucks one very straight”
Oh! Wow! Would you believe it?? It has gone so far!!!!”
“No one can stop this man! He is unstoppable!”
“It is the ball, it’s gone for four!!! Chennai Super Kings, they are the kings!!”
“Suresh Raina just toyed with their bowling!”
Hearing these commentary lines rings many-a-bells for the cricket fanatics from the land of knowledgeable crowd and who chest thump themselves with saying “we have 5 titles to our kitty!”
Chennai Super Kings has not just been a team for their fans and players, they have been more than a family member in every household. The aura they bring into a tournament is unmatched to any and this year, they enter the tournament with some real talents whom we always wish to have in our team.
Taking stock from season 1 and being the team who qualified the most for the finals (10), Chennai Super Kings have been a class apart. The kind of camaraderie the team shares and the management gives would be so heartwarming and who would not want to play under the “Captain Cool” and take some leaves off his book? This team has been so tactical in the auction picks that one would frown at the final sheet of players picked but would cheer the loudest when the season ends, that is how a player is shaped here.
Having clinched 5 titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 & 2023, the Chennai Super Kings would be eager to place their hands and lead the title race with 6 trophies. They would also want the same for their enigma, MS Dhoni, to wave off from this tournament on a high with a trophy and continue the legacy of his in the years to come (maybe a morse code is already ready in place).
Retentions of CSK in 2025:
When it comes to the retentions and building a team, only two teams make it a point to ensure they retain their core in a sensible manner, and one is Chennai Super Kings. The team made a strong case in bringing in the uncapped player rule wherein they can be retained for 4 crores and retained their heartbeat in MS Dhoni and had the core retentions of Ruturaj Gaikwad (18C), Ravindra Jadeja (18C), Shivam Dube (12C), Matheesha Pathirana (13C) from their 120C auction purse. Smart move, isn’t it?
Keeping only 55C in hand, the management had to build a squad surrounding the core and also keeping in mind the future and they were very successful in doing so.
Auction Picks 2025:
As told in the retentions tab, CSK management plays a pivotal role in the picking of players for their squad entrusted with the backing and the “tips” of their enigma MSD and their captain Ruturaj.
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, two of the explosive starters for the team, were left out in the retentions and one had doubts on whether any of them would make a comeback, as for CSK fans, once a CSKian, always a CSKian. Same mantra goes for the management who pulled off a scintillating bidding war to pocket both the openers for 10.25C together. Along with them was the young spin magician Noor Ahmad who was pouched by Chennai Super Kings via the RTM procedure from GT at 10C and with the form he is in, he would be a great addition to the spin wizards list at the Anbuden.
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One of the high points of the auction was the pick of local players for the team which was missing for a long period of time and hope they would get more chances to play in the team. Maestro and ace R Ashwin returns to the “Anbuden” after almost a decade and the spin wizard would be raring to go all guns blazing. Andre Siddharth, an exciting prospect and an upcoming star in the TN circle, was picked at 30L and this experience with the team would be a one of a time experience for the youngster.
Another epic execution by the management was the pick of Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda. Rahul Tripathi is the perfect No.3 and would be almost the apt person after Suresh Raina to execute the opponents with ease. Deepak Hooda would provide stability in the middle and can also roll his arms when the captain throws the ball at him. Both of them were picked at a combined price of 5.1C.
Coming to the bowling front, the management made sure that the blend of pacers would always keep the opponent on check and they did right by picking the recently title winning captain Nathan Ellis who would bulldoze the opponent with his pace. It was homecoming for the “Chutti” Sam Curran who was the trump card for the Super Kings and he has shined his armour and is ready for the battle. Adding some spice to the dish is the talented Kamlesh Nagarkoti, who with his raw pace, can skittle the opponents and keep them in check.
Anshul Kamboj, the star and rising cricketer from Mumbai, adds “el sabor” to the team and he is a player to watch out for and is highly regarded among the cricket geniuses.
Overall, a great auction at the table for the Kings and with their army, will they finish as the champions this time?
Players to watch out for:
As iterated above, the picks from the management in this year’s auction was a treat to the eyes. The squad has been built well and you have good options to backup for the players when they are low on confidence / injured.
Among the Indian picks, Rahul Tripathi is someone whose pick by the Chennai Super Kings is brilliant as he is a good player of spin. Rahul Tripathi has shown a strong ability to score against both pace and spin in the IPL, with his strike rate slightly higher against pace (144.59) compared to spin (138.69) since 2020. He maintains a high strike rate against both types of bowling, striking at 144.59 against pace and 138.69 against spin since 2020
Noor Ahmad, the current spin magician who is making wonders all around the world, is such an exciting prospect and with him along with R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja at the helm, it is going to be the mantra preached by the franchise – “spin choke”. 12 overs of the spin from these would ensure at least 5 wickets and a strict check on the runs in the scoreboard and mountain of pressure for the opponents.
Best Playing XI at home:
Rachin Ravindra*
Ruturaj Gaikwad (C)
Rahul Tripathi
Shivam Dube
Deepak Hooda
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravichandran Ashwin
MS Dhoni (WK)
Sam Curran*
Noor Ahmad*
Khaleel Ahmed
Matheesha Pathirana / Nathan Ellis* - Impact Player
Best Playing XI at away:
Rachin Ravindra*
Ruturaj Gaikwad (C)
Rahul Tripathi
Deepak Hooda
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravichandran Ashwin
MS Dhoni (WK)
Sam Curran*
Noor Ahmad*
Khaleel Ahmed / Anshul Kamboj
Matheesha Pathirana / Nathan Ellis*
Shivam Dube - Impact Player
Prediction of CSK in IPL 2025:
Taking into account the team that has been picked and the team which can be played or tinkered with according to the conditions and the dearth of experience the team has, Chennai Super Kings would finish in top 2 and would aim for to pocket another title to their kitty and lead the race for the most number of trophies.
