Chennai Super Kings (CSK) sets their target to clinch the sixth championship title by bolstering their squad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
After exhausting their auction purse, the five-time champions are left with INR 5 lakhs but invited its former star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin back to the squad.
Coming back from a drubbing performance in the previous calendar year, fans expect CSK’s smart retentions and signings to lead them to lift the forthcoming 18th season’s IPL trophy under Ruturaj Gaikwad’s captaincy. Considering the maximum limit of 4 overseas and 7 local player combinations, let’s find out what could be CSK’s strongest playing XI after the two-day bidding event.
1. Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain / Indian): Opening Batter
Since his IPL debut in 2020, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been the reliable batter for CSK who can perform consistently at the opening spot as well as in the middle order.
2. Devon Conway (New Zealand): Opening Batter and Backup Wicketkeeper
Devon Conway’s absence in the previous season due to a thumb injury left a huge void in the Super Kings’ opening lineup. The return of the left-handed Kiwi batter in IPL 2025 promises to provide explosive starts, along with Gaikwad in the powerplay overs.
3. Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand): Spin Bowling All-Rounder
The 25-year-old Rachin Ravindra adds dynamism to the batting and bowling line-up as a left-handed batter and a backup spinner.
4. Rahul Tripathi (Indian): Batter
In a T20 format where batters have dominated with aggression, the presence of a right-handed batter like Rahul Tripathi in the middle-order can help accumulate huge numbers for his team.
5. Shivam Dube (Indian): Pace Bowling All-Rounder
Shivam Dube could step into the role of the best finishing batter for CSK, proven with his power-hitting abilities in the death overs. In addition, his role as a pacer could intensify the team’s bowling attack.
6. Ravindra Jadeja (Indian): Spin Bowling All-Rounder
Having been Chennai’s promising all-rounder for several years, Jadeja’s dual abilities as a destructive left-handed batter and brilliant spinner add a new dimension to the squad.
7. MS Dhoni (Indian): Batter and Wicketkeeper
The former CSK captain MS Dhoni deserves a special mention as he has been the heart and soul of the team since its inception in 2008. Even at the age of 43, his presence as the best finishing batter and a clever strategist behind the stumps is crucial to guide the young and experienced players in the squad.
8. Ravichandran Ashwin (Indian): Spin Bowling All-Rounder
Ultimately, CSK’s dearth of quality spin bowlers has been resolved with the return of Ashwin, who can grab wickets instantly with the ball and additionally contribute well with the bat at the lower order.
9. Noor Ahmed (Afghanistan): Spin Bowler
At the age of 20, Noor Ahmad has been a sensational spinner for the Afghanistan cricket team. His inclusion as the costliest buy for CSK (worth INR 10 crore in the auction) promises to add fuel to the spin bowling attack along with Ashwin.
10. Khaleel Ahmed (Indian): Pace Bowler
Having a full-time pace bowler like Khaleel Ahmed helps alleviate the dependence and the workload on Pathirana.
11. Matheesha Pathirana (Sri Lanka): Pace Bowler
The Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana has been the match-winner for CSK in the past few seasons and is expected to lead the pace bowling attack from the front.
How much did CSK Spend at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction?
CSK entered the IPL 2025 mega auction with a purse of INR 55 crores, and strategically bid spending INR 54.95 crores. This helped to build a robust 25-member squad consisting of 18 local cricketers and 7 overseas players.
Complete List of Retained CSK Players Pre-Auction
After releasing several players from the previous season’s squad, CSK spent a mammoth budget of INR 65 crore ahead of the auction, out of INR 120 crore purse. The Yellow Army retained its five core players, including the former Indian captain MS Dhoni, under the uncapped category:
Player | Retained Price (INR) |
---|---|
Ruturaj Gaikwad | ₹18 crore |
Ravindra Jadeja | ₹18 crore |
Shivam Dube | ₹12 crore |
Matheesha Pathirana | ₹13 crore |
MS Dhoni (Uncapped player) | ₹4 crore |
List of Players Acquired by CSK at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction
Here is the list of 20 players acquired by CSK in the IPL 2025 mega auction for these lucrative price tags:
S.No | Player | Nation | Base Price (INR) | Winning Bid (INR) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Noor Ahmed | Afghanistan | ₹2 Crore | ₹10 Crore |
2. | Ravichandran Ashwin | India | ₹2 Crore | ₹9.75 Crore |
3. | Devon Conway | New Zealand | ₹2 Crore | ₹6.25 Crore |
4. | Khaleel Ahmed | India | ₹2 Crore | ₹4.80 Crore |
5. | Rachin Ravindra (Retained via RTM) | New Zealand | ₹1.5 Crore | ₹4 Crore |
6. | Anshul Kamboj | India | ₹30 Lakh | ₹3.40 Crore |
7. | Rahul Tripathi | India | ₹75 Lakh | ₹3.40 Crore |
8. | Sam Curran | England | ₹2 Crore | ₹2.4 Crore |
9. | Gurjapneet Singh | India | ₹30 Lakh | ₹2.2 Crore |
10. | Nathan Ellis | Australia | ₹2 Crore | ₹2 Crore |
11. | Deepak Hooda | India | ₹75 Lakh | ₹1.7 Crore |
12. | Jamie Overton | England | ₹1.5 Crore | ₹1.5 Crore |
13. | Vijay Shankar | India | ₹30 Lakh | ₹1.2 Crore |
14. | Vansh Bedi | India | ₹30 Lakh | ₹55 Lakh |
15. | Shaik Rasheed | India | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |
16. | Kamlesh Nagarkoti | India | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |
17. | Ramakrishna Ghosh | India | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |
18. | Shreyas Gopal | India | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |
19. | Andre Siddarth | India | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |
20. | Mukesh Choudhary | India | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |