The pacer had played just one game in IPL 2025.
Nathan Ellis had a Big Bash League (BBL) Final to cherish in the 2024-25 edition as he led Hobart Hurricanes to their first-ever title after a 15-year wait. In the summit clash against Sydney Thunder, he led by example by claiming 3-23 and finished the season with 13 wickets from 10 games. This raised hopes for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. He played their season opener against Mumbai Indians, claimed 1-38, but didn’t play another game for the rest of the season.
As CSK’s fortunes nosedived soon after the win in the first match against MI, Ellis was never preferred in the playing XI despite the management changing it too many times for anyone’s convenience. Besides the success of Khaleel Ahmed and Noor Ahmad, CSK didn’t have many notable performances in the season, where they finished bottom of the points table while also bagging too many unwanted records.
SDS
–
EDR
–
NDS
–
CDK
–
ODW
–
NDT
–
SLG
153/4
PIR
98/7
Sloggers beat Pirates by 55 runs
GCC
71/4
RUCC
120/3
Rugby CC beat Gaming CC by 49 runs
SLG
–
GCC
35/1
RUCC
–
PIR
–
SLG
–
RUCC
–
GCC
–
PIR
–
SLG
–
PIR
–
GCC
–
RUCC
–
SLG
–
GCC
–
SLG
–
RUCC
–
GCC
–
PIR
–
RUCC
–
PIR
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
NVR
–
GTC
–
MATCH ABANDONED
91YC
60/3
GUG
13/0
NAJC
–
CCC
–
BCC
–
NVR
–
EST-W
94/6
GIB-W
68/10
Estonia Women beat Gibraltar Women by 26 runs
EST-W
–
GIB-W
–
EST-W
–
GIB-W
–
KRMPS
–
FEK
–
TCC
–
CEC-A
–
PHG
72/10
SEL
188/2
Selangor beat Pahang by 116 runs
JOR
255/7
KELN
79/10
Johor beat Kelantan by 176 runs
PUT
66/10
PRK
215/6
Perak beat Putrajaya by 149 runs
KLPR
266/7
SRAK
229/6
Kuala Lumpur beat Sarawak by 37 runs
MEL
–
PHG
–
SEL
–
KELN
–
PENG
–
PUT
–
PRK
–
SRAK
–
RAY
141/1
MAG
136/7
Rays beat Magic by 9 wickets
CHG
179/6
WOL
137/3
MAR
–
ROC
–
NPB
211/5
PMW
140/10
NPL Bears beat Pupkewitz Motors Wildcats by 71 runs
PAJ
–
EAE
–
PAJ
–
PMW
–
NPB
–
EAE
–
WI
–
PAK
–
WI
–
PAK
–
ESN
–
SWT
–
ESN
–
SWT
–
ESN
–
SWT
–
WIU19-W
–
USAU19-W
–
PNC
–
SAC
–
This only showed that they had no faith in Ellis, who is most likely to be released into the IPL 2026 auction. If that happens, here are three teams that could go for the Australian.
The 2025 IPL runners-up have built a team for the future despite losing the final, and their bowlers have proven that multiple times over the course of the season. It is unlikely they will try to retain Lockie Ferguson, who has been injury-prone. Also, his availability around the auction is still in doubt. They will need a familiar face like Ellis, who has become a white-ball regular for Australia recently. Ellis can provide the impetus with the new ball and can extract bounce with the old ball, which his previous IPL employers are well aware of.
KKR might have failed in their title defence with their mediocre batting performances contributing heavily to it, but their bowling had been their biggest letdown. They kept on chopping and changing their line-up, with their pace attack barely settling in. Even when they clicked, like bundling out PBKS for 111 at Mullanpur, their batting collapsed.
Ellis will be a great addition to their attack, who has all the promise but needs confidence to keep winning games. Ellis, with all his experience playing in leagues across the world, can bring stability to their fast-bowling department. He also fits the bill of having a pacer who can swing the new ball both ways.
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Rajasthan Royals are in desperate need of fast bowlers, as their season has been full of bowling failures, specifically at the death while defending. They had let oppositions take control of the chases with poor powerplays and middle overs that lacked control over the conditions. There was a need to ‘win crucial moments’ consistently, and Nathan Ellis can do that for them. With enough chances in the playing XI, the 30-year-old can control proceedings at the start and the end, which is something Rajasthan Royals need next season.
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