Chennai Super Kings: The Yellow Army, Chennai Super Kings is a franchise that has won five titles in the Indian Premier League and they have equalled Mumbai Indians in this regard. CSK is also the first franchise team to defend their title in 2011 after they won their maiden trophy in 2010. Under MS Dhoni, CSK had won all five crowns in this cash-rich league tournament.
But last year, the Yellow Army didn’t defend their crown and also couldn’t qualify for the top four spot in the Indian Premier League 2024 season. Mahendra Singh Dhoni handed the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad last year and Rutu did a decent job as the skipper of CSK. However, he failed to take his team to the playoffs.
Now it remains to be seen if the management of Chennai Super Kings will still make Gaikwad lead the CSK side or they might ask MSD to step in the captaincy shoes once again, maybe for the last time to break that record of the team who has won the most titles in the Indian Premier League history.
The mega of this cash-rich league tournament for the 2025 season will be held in November and December this year. The timings and the venue of the mega auction haven’t been announced by the Indian Board, BCCI yet. In today’s segment, we shall let our viewers know who are the six players that the Chennai Super Kings might retain for the Indian Premier League 2025 season –
1. MS Dhoni –
MSD may again step into the captaincy stint for the IPL 2025 season. The inspirational leader of India and CSK would be aiming to go past the record of five IPL titles, that record has been equalled with MI. Mahi will be considered an uncapped player because he has not been part of the BCCI’s central contract list for five years.
In the last season, MS had hit a few lusty blows when he batted down the order. The young wicketkeeper batter was also seen fit and running between the wickets like his younger days. In 14 matches of TATA IPL 2024, Mahi scored 161 runs with the third-best strike rate of the season, 220.55 and the fourth-best average in the 2024 IPL edition, 53.67. Dhoni has been retained by the CSK franchise every season and the Yellow Army management will not let him go.
2. Ravindra Jadeja –
The spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is also a World Champion of the shortest format in 2024. Jaddu has also announced his retirement from the T20 International format after India won the T20 World Cup 2024. But it is a lot that Jadeja brings to the table for CSK.
We all know that Jadeja is a terrific fielder, a good batter and an excellent bowler. So if CSK releases Jaddu, then they may not find a player who has these three important qualities. In 14 matches of the 2024 edition, Ravindra had scored 267 runs with one fifty, an average of 44.50 and a strike rate of 142.78. Jaddu has been part of the CSK franchise since 2012 and they have never let the all-rounder go till now.
3. Ruturaj Gaikwad –
The skipper of the TATA IPL 2024 edition, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been a terrific opener for the Chennai Super Kings franchise. Rutu has been a consistent performer for the Yellow Army and that’s why he was bestowed as the new leader of that franchise.
Gaikwad was also part of the 2021 and 2023 title wins for CSK. In 2021, Gaikwad won the orange cap when CSK won their fourth title of the IPL and in 2023, Rutu was ranked as the seventh highest scorer when CSK lifted their fifth trophy of this tournament. In the 2024 edition, as a skipper, Gaikwad scored 583 runs from 14 games with an average of 53, a strike rate of 141.16, one century and four fifties.
4. Rachin Ravindra –
The young spin bowling all-rounder of New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra is taking big steps in International Cricket and he was part of Chennai Super Kings last year. Retaining Rachin will allow CSK to find more options in their squad. Ravindra also opened the innings with Gaikwad last year or he can also be used as an impact sub because of his bowling. In his debut season of IPL 2024, Ravindra had scored 222 runs from 10 matches with one fifty, an average of 22.20 and a strike rate of 160.87.
5. Matheesha Pathirana –
The fast bowler from Sri Lanka, Matheesha Pathirana has been a superb performer for CSK in the editions he has played till now. He has that accuracy and pace. His action has surprised the batters as of now. He has been part of the CSK squad since 2022 and he has picked up 34 wickets from 20 matches.
In the last season of TATA IPL 2024, Matheesha Pathirana picked up 13 wickets to his name from six games played with the white cherry. He had an average of 13, a strike rate of 10.15 and an economy rate of 7.68. Pathirana also had picked up a four-wicket haul and his best match figures were four wickets for 28 runs.
6. Maheesh Theekshana –
The Sri Lanka spin bowler Maheesh Theekshana has been the third spin bowler in the playing for Chennai Super Kings. He made his debut in 2022. But last year, Theekshana played just five games and picked up two wickets to his name. CSK will need to have three spinners in their XI and Theekshana is a quality overseas bowler who can feature in all the games of the IPL 2025 edition which will be played in India, where the conditions will suit the spinners the most.
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