3 reasons why CSK splurging ₹10 crore for Noor Ahmad in IPL 2025 Auction makes sense
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) went all out after Afghanistan left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad on the opening day of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction. The five-time champions spent a massive ₹10 crore to acquire the services of the 19-year-old spin sensation.
Noor played for the Gujarat Titans last season and picked up eight wickets from ten games. While Noor has not had a long international career, he has already made waves in T20 cricket, plying his trade across different leagues and picking up wickets all around the globe.
Noor is among the most promising upcoming cricketers and has already made a significant mark. While the Gujarat Titans tried to use their RTM card to bring him back, CSK outbid them and eventually managed to bring the wrist spinner into their side for the upcoming seasons.
The 19-year-old is expected to play a key role for the Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming season and could be a masterclass. On that note, here are three reasons why CSK splurging ₹ 10 crore for Noor Ahmad in the IPL 2025 Auction makes sense.
#3 The conditions at Chepauk could suit Noor Ahmad
Left-arm wrist spin is a rare skill not many bowlers possess these days. With his skill set, Noor Ahmad has proven to be a threat to many batters across the various leagues he has participated in.
He is a wicket-taking bowler who has an economy rate of 6.94 in T20Is and 7.16 in T20s, showing that he not only picks wickets but also makes scoring runs difficult for batters.
The conditions at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk traditionally suit spinners where batters find it difficult to score freely. Given Noor's skillset and quality, the conditions at Chepauk would be ideal for him, and should he be able to exploit them, he could prove to be a key signing for CSK.
#2 The presence of a wrist-spinner and the Texas Super Kings connect
Since South African Imran Tahir, CSK have not had a quality wrist-spinner in their ranks. Wrist-spinners have emerged as match-winners in the T20 format and are prime wicket-taking options for teams.
Noor Ahmad, who comes with a solid record, adds to the quality of CSK's spin attack and bolsters the unit significantly.
Noor was part of the Texas Super Kings franchise at the Major League Cricket (MLC) season earlier this year, where he picked up nine wickets from four games at an average of 13.44 and an economy rate of 7.56.
#1 Noor rounds off the spin attack well
The core of CSK's spin attack for the upcoming IPL season seems pretty much sorted with their buys on Day 1. The Chennai-based franchise brought Ravichandran Ashwin back into the team after a long time.
The veteran spinner being a local boy is a huge boost as he knows the conditions at Chepauk inside out.
Alongside Ashwin, the addition of Noor Ahmad gives CSK a lethal spin duo, that can dominate at Chepauk and strengthens their bowling attack significantly.