CSK's best playing 11 plus Impact Player after IPL 2025 Auction ft. MS Dhoni & Vijay Shankar
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had a productive 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. The Men in Yellow, who missed the playoffs last year, are primed to mount a serious push for another title.
CSK signed a few of their former players at the IPL 2025 auction, as expected. Shaik Rasheed, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Mukesh Choudhary were among those to return to the franchise after being part of the roster in 2024. Other former Super Kings who were part of different teams last season also made their way back to Chepauk.
CSK's squad for IPL 2025: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi, Shaik Rasheed, Deepak Hooda, Andre Siddarth, Devon Conway, MS Dhoni, Vansh Bedi, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, R Ashwin, Sam Curran, Rachin Ravindra, Vijay Shankar, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Noor Ahmad, Shreyas Gopal, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis.
On that note, here is CSK's strongest side, including an impact player, for IPL 2025.
Openers: Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
Arguably, Ruturaj Gaikwad's ideal position in T20s is at No. 3, as that would allow him to take his time to get set and also start against spin. However, he returned to the top of the order towards the end of IPL 2024, and it's safe to assume that he will take up that role again.
CSK have two options to partner with Gaikwad. While Devon Conway might be the favorite, with him having been an integral part of the Chennai side over the last three years, young Rachin Ravindra might be a better option at this point.
Ravindra can get off the blocks quickly, and his career seems to be on an upward trajectory, which can't be said about his senior Kiwi teammate.
Middle order: Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk)
CSK's new signings are expected to feature in the middle order around Shivam Dube. Rahul Tripathi could bat at No. 3, with his high intent against both pace and spin being key assets. Vijay Shankar could follow Dube in the lineup as CSK's designated pace hitter, ahead of Deepak Hooda, whose skills are better suited to taking on spin.
Pace-bowling all-rounder Sam Curran might be a necessity in the side because of team balance, and he could slot in at #6. Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni, who were retained ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, will round off the middle order. With a few holes in this department, Jadeja and Dhoni will need to be at the top of their game during the upcoming season.
Lower order: Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed
CSK are likely to want three quality spinners to feature, especially in their home games. Ravichandran Ashwin and Noor Ahmad, two of their most important signings at the IPL 2025 auction, will be the men entrusted with this.
Matheesha Pathirana is a fixture in the lineup, with Nathan Ellis serving as his backup. CSK have a few options to be their frontline Indian pacer, including Khaleel Ahmed, Gurjapneet Singh, and Anshul Kamboj.
Khaleel might be the favorite, although the other two won't be far behind. If Chennai want to field four pacers in their XII, they might need to drop Vijay Shankar and sacrifice a bit of their batting depth.