3 players released by MI who could fit in perfectly at CSK in IPL 2025 ft. Naman Dhir
The Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) both missed out on the playoffs in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, their campaigns were far from similar.
While Hardik Pandya and Co. were never really in the hunt for the playoffs and finished dead last in the standings, the Men in Yellow seemed ahead of the pack for a large part of the season before falling at the last hurdle. Both teams will want to turn in better performances in IPL 2025.
A number of players have represented both franchises, including the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo, Mike Hussey and Piyush Chawla. Even at the IPL 2025 auction, a few players released by Mumbai could see a yellow paddle being raised for them.
On that note, here are three players released by MI who could fit in perfectly at CSK in IPL 2025.
#3 Gerald Coetzee
A player who features for CSK's sister franchise Texas Super Kings, Gerald Coetzee is a natural choice for the Men in Yellow to target. A strapping fast bowler who can hit a long ball in the lower order, the South African could turn out to be a major match-winner for the Super Kings.
Coetzee is capable of performing an enforcer role in the middle overs, something that could be deadly along with a spin combination CSK are likely to employ. He can also take the new ball, and the fact that he is more of a seam bowler than a swing bowler will suit Chepauk well.
CSK will need to secure a solid Indian batting core if they are to play Coetzee and Matheesha Pathirana in tandem, but IPL teams have managed to do that of late.
#2 Nehal Wadhera
Nehal Wadhera featured in only six games for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024. Strangely, despite the left-hander having a productive campaign in the 2023 edition of the league, the five-time champions didn't start with him in their side.
Nevertheless, Wadhera is one of the few Indian young left-handers available on the market. A capable hitter of both pace and spin, he can don a number of roles in the middle order. The youngster's part-time leg-spin might also be a big factor if he plays at spin-friendly venues like Chepauk.
CSK need a young Indian batting core and Wadhera fits the bill perfectly.
#1 Naman Dhir
After releasing Moeen Ali, CSK need an off-spinning all-rounder who can bat in the middle order. The likes of Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin have been touted as potential targets, but a batting all-rounder might serve the Super Kings better.
Naman Dhir, as one of India's most exciting batting talents, could be the man for the job. Excellent down the ground and capable of playing backfoot shots on both sides of the wicket, the Punjab youngster is one to watch out for. He has also shown decent application against spin, although that aspect of his game hasn't been tested much at the IPL level.
Dhir could become one of the cornerstones of CSK's lineup if they manage to prise him away from MI's RTM-wielding hands.