Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have signed 17-year-old Mumbai opener Ayush Mhatre as a replacement for the injured captain Ruturaj Gaikwad for the remainder of IPL 2025, for INR 30 lakh. Ayush Mhatre is yet to make his T20 debut but has two centuries in seven List-A games. The first of them was a 117-ball 181 against Nagaland that included 15 fours and 11 sixes, followed by a 93-ball 148 against Saurashtra that included 13 fours and nine sixes. He can also bowl offspin, with which he has picked up seven List A wickets in four innings.
The Indian Premier League has officially announced that the Chennai Super Kings will replace their skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, with the young batting talent from Mumbai, Ayush Mhatre, for the remainder of the 2025 season. Gaikwad was officially ruled out last week with the Chennai skipper picking up an injury to his elbow, which has effectively ruled him out of the remainder of the campaign. Ayush Mhatre was already a part of the CSK setup when he was part of the trials ahead of this season.
Ayush Mhatre’s cricketing career – A glimpse
An opening batter, Ayush Mhatre, was born in July 2007, just months before MS Dhoni led India to their first-ever T20 World Cup triumph. The teenager hails from a humble background on the outskirts of Mumbai—in Virar. He travelled nearly 80 kilometres one way to work with coaches and access top-class cricket facilities, according to ESPNCricinfo.
Ayush’s grandfather, Laxmikant Naik, played a crucial role in his journey. He ensured Ayush Mhatre woke up on time each day and accompanied him to cricket coaching and school.
Ayush has credited his parents for their unwavering support, ensuring he had everything he needed to pursue his cricketing dreams despite financial challenges. He began playing cricket at the age of six, but it wasn’t until he turned 15 that he realised he could potentially pursue it as a career.
Ayush represented Mumbai at the Under-23 level for the first time in December 2023. Within ten months, he made his debut for the senior state side. Ayush Mhatre has played nine first-class matches, scoring 504 runs, including two centuries in the Ranji Trophy. He has also featured in seven 50-over matches for Mumbai, amassing 458 runs, including two centuries, at an average of 65.42 and a strike rate of 135.50.
Ayush Mhatre also represented the India Under-19 team in three games at the Asia Cup in 2024. It was in the first-class circuit, however, where he first made headlines. He made his red-ball debut in the Irani Cup last year and dazzled with a knock of 176 against Maharashtra – led by Gaikwad – that followed his 52 against Baroda on a turning track in Vadodara. So far he has played nine first-class games, scoring 504 runs, including two hundreds, at an average of 31.50.
His List A numbers are more impressive: 458 runs in seven innings at an average of 65.42 and strike rate of 135.50. With his century against Nagaland, Ayush Mhatre had also broken Yashasvi Jaiswal’s world record of becoming the youngest player to score 150-plus in men’s senior List A cricket.
In December 2024, Ayush Mhatre smashed 181 runs off just 117 balls in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Nagaland, becoming the youngest batter in the world to score 150 or more in a List A game. He also represented India in the U19 Asia Cup, scoring 176 runs in five matches at an average of 44.
Ayush Mhatre was starstruck when he got the chance to share the Mumbai dressing room with Rohit Sharma during a Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir earlier this year. Ayush made way for Rohit, who played that game, and wrote a heartfelt note to his idol during the match
Ayush Mhatre joined CSK team
Chennai Super Kings zeroed in on Ayush Mhatre after calling him for trials earlier in the season. Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out on Thursday, April 10, and MS Dhoni led the team in his absence on the following day in a home game against Kolkata Knight Riders. CSK made the decision to bring in Ayush as Ruturaj’s replacement on Saturday and were keen to have him join the squad at the earliest.
Ruturaj Gaikwad led CSK in their first five games, of which they lost four, before an elbow injury ruled him out of the season, with MS Dhoni taking over as captain.
Ayush Mhatre’s addition will be a big boost for the five-time champions, who have been struggling to find form, especially amongst the top order. With Gaikwad’s absence, the experienced opening pair of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra have failed to fire, resulting in the side picking up four losses in a row after their win in the season-opener.
It remains to be seen where he would slot in the batting order if given the chance. The franchise needs a solid opening batter at number three, and the youngster could easily slot in either of these positions. CSK’s next encounter is against MI on Sunday, 20th April at Wankhede and that match undoubtedly is a blockbuster and Ayush might get a chance.
CSK have already made changes to their 11 with Conway being dropped in place of the young batter, Shaikh Rasheed. He put in a valiant contribution of 27 in 19 balls after being dismissed. CSK after a series of five losses have finally secured a win vs LSG on Monday by 5 wickets. The addition of Ayush Mhatre will only add boost in the depleted batting line up for Chennai Super Kings.
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