Which Players will CSK Target in IPL 2025 Auction with INR 55 Crore Purse? Analysing Full Chennai Super Kings Wishlist and Key Areas They Need to Fill

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained five players before the IPL 2025 auction. They have spent INR 65 crores and have INR 55 crores to work with during the auction. Before delving into CSK’s strategy for the auction, let’s analyse each player they have retained and their expertise.

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad: A right-handed opener who is exceptionally skilled vs spin. He can anchor the innings, and when set, is among the best accelerators in the middle and death overs. He is also the captain.
2. Shivam Dube: A bonafide six-hitter vs spin, Dube is the middle-order batter whose best position is at No.4. He also has decent value vs non-short length deliveries against pace. He also bowls at a useful medium pace, even though the Impact Player rule has taken away his bowling value.
3. Ravindra Jadeja: A defensive white-ball bowler whose game in limited-over formats is in its best condition. Also, a solid pace-hitter in the lower middle order. He brings variety to the batting and bowling department.
4. MS Dhoni: A terrific pace-hitter, MS Dhoni’s role is limited to providing impetus to the innings in the death overs. He also keeps the wickets. However, his skills are on the wane at this age.
5. Matheesha Pathirana: A death-overs specialist, Matheesha Pathirana has been among the finest death-over bowlers in the last two years. He specialises in bowling with the old ball and has ample control over his yorkers. However, he can be wayward at times.

Also Read: Which Players will Mumbai Indians Target in IPL 2025 Auction? Analysing Full MI Wishlist and Key Areas They Need to Fill

Right now, this is how Chennai Super Kings’ Playing XI is set up:

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad
2. ________________
3. ________________
4. Shivam Dube
5. ________________
6. MS Dhoni
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. ________________
9. ________________
10.  Matheesha Pathirana
11. ________________

Now that it’s clear where the voids are, we can explore how Chennai Super Kings might go about their business in the IPL 2025 Auction.

What do Chennai Super Kings require in the IPL 2025 auction?

Role No.1 – An opener, who can be the aggressor in the powerplay with a solid pace game

1. Devon Conway: It won’t be surprising if CSK use RTM on Devon Conway during the auction. He was their set opener and complemented Gaikwad well. He will also be the wicketkeeper once MS Dhoni retires.
2. Rahul Tripathi: Rahul Tripathi is a batter who bats with high intent and utilises the powerplay. He is also a more than decent player of spin. He has worked with MS Dhoni previously.
3. Ishan Kishan: Ishan Kishan is another suitable fit in CSK’s setup. He can start quickly and hits pacers well, and Gaikwad will save him vs spin. He is also a wicketkeeper.
4. Phil Salt: Phil Salt is an ideal powerplay opener who can manoeuvre the fields and hit the ball long. His game vs pace is terrific, and Gaikwad’s spin game will complement him well. He also provides the wicketkeeping option.
5. Jonny Bairstow: While his magic has faded in recent times, CSK like to have experienced players on their side. Bairstow has a strong pace game, and his expertise vs spin is also decent. He also solves the wicketkeeping problem if Dhoni decides to quit midway through the cycle.

Role No.2 – A No.3, who is strong vs pace and wicketkeeping option if they fail to get an opener who can keep

1. Rishabh Pant: India used Rishabh Pant at No.3, and the move worked decently. CSK would want someone like him, for he is solid vs pace and keeps the wickets. CSK like to have someone with experience and might go hard after him.
2. Josh Inglis: A slightly non-CSK move, but Josh Inglis brings supreme skillsets vs pace and can play all those orthodox and unorthodox shots. His recent rise has been notable and fits perfectly at No.3. He also keeps the wickets.
3. Vishnu Vinod: A budget pick, Vishnu Vinod is a serious pace hitter and has improved massively lately. He can be flexible with his batting position, and we can mention here that CSK can also try him at No.5. He will be targeted if CSK don’t get a wicketkeeper in the opener.
4. Mitchell Marsh: A solid hitter of hard lengths and short-pitched deliveries, Mitchell Marsh will be an ideal No.3 for CSK. He will save Shivam Dube from hard lengths and can hit from the first ball. Like Vishnu Vinod, Marsh can also bat at No.5.
5. Naman Dhir: Another solid player vs pace, Naman Dhir showed a serious backfoot game in IPL 2024. With a superior spin player around him, Naman can execute his role vs pace. He will also improve from here on and will be a long-term investment.

Role No.3 – A solid No.5 with a solid game vs pace and decent vs spin

1. David Miller: An ideal fit for this position, David Miller fills everything CSK require. They like to have big players with experience, and Miller ticks those boxes. He is a proven player in the league.
2. KL Rahul: An out-of-box option, but KL Rahul has expressed his desire to play in the middle order. He is solid vs pace and spin and has performed this role brilliantly in ODIs, and there’s no reason why he can’t do the same in the shortest format. He also solves the wicketkeeping issues in case CSK don’t get one in the top four.
3. Jitesh Sharma: Jitesh Sharma’s best value comes at No.5. He has a solid game vs pace and is decent vs spin, something CSK require. He is also a wicketkeeper.

Role No.4 – A wicket-taking spinner to support Ravindra Jadeja

1. Yuzvendra Chahal: Yuzvendra Chahal is an ideal partner for Ravindra Jadeja. The two have played together, and Chahal is a genuine wicket-taker who will get ample help off the deck in Chennai. Dhoni knows him well.
2. Maheesh Theekshana: CSK might simply re-bid for Maheesh Theekshana. He is a dangerous option on the home decks of Chennai. CSK like to have some experience in this department, and Theekshana has played for them before.
3. Wanindu Hasaranga: A genuine wicket-taker, Wanindu Hasaranga fits nicely in CSK’s plans. CSK like those spinners who bring some batting value. His variations might be very effective in Chepauk.
4. Rahul Chahar: While Rahul Chahar’s recent form hasn’t been decent, his previous experience in the league might be something CSK look for. Under the CSK setup, he can work on those areas and regain his lost form, something CSK have done with many players in the past. There’s also a decent batting value.

Role No.5 – A powerplay specialist

1. Tushar Deshpande: Leaving out Tushar Deshpande was a tough move, but CSK had to make it. However, they still have an RTM available, and if not on Conway, they can use it on Tushar. He is a genuine new-ball bowler with decent value in other phases.
2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Bhuvneshwar Kumar is everything CSK want in this segment. Swing, experience, skills – he brings all the required aspects with him. There’s also decent death-over value in Bhuvneshwar, and it won’t be surprising if CSK target him during the auction.
3. Rasikh Salam: While Delhi Capitals (DC) mostly used him in the middle overs, Rasikh Salam can be very effective with the new ball, for he can generate movement. Further, there’s enough promise in the middle and death overs, as visible last season. He mostly bowls according to the fields, and Dhoni precisely looks for someone like him.
4. Vaibhav Arora: A budget pick for CSK. Vaibhav Arora can move the new ball both ways and bring wickets early on. There’s also a decent potential to be a successful death-over bowler in him.
5. Josh Hazlewood: Josh Hazlewood solves two problems of Chennai Super Kings. Apart from being a terrific powerplay bowler, he can also bowl adeptly in the middle overs. He can bowl those shorter-length deliveries into the pitch and be an enforcer.

Role No.6 – A middle-overs enforcer with decent death-overs skillsets

1. Gerald Coetzee: Gerald Coetzee is a quintessential enforcer. He can bowl at a high pace and into the pitch. Further, he has shown decent death-over skills as well lately.
2. Simarjeet Singh: Simarjeet Singh might be a budget pick. He can bowl at pace, and his natural lengths are ideal for middle overs. He has previously worked with CSK, increasing his chances of ending up on the same team.
3. Kagiso Rabada: Kagiso Rabada solves two main problems of CSK. He can bowl with the new ball and bring early wickets while hitting the deck hard in the middle overs. CSK know how to use their resources well, and if used precisely, Rabada will fit perfectly in the CSK setup.
4. Avesh Khan: Avesh Khan is among the best options in this section. He can hit the surface and bowl with pace, while his death-over credentials aren’t too bad. But his price might not fit in CSK’s budget unless they keep some amount specifically for this department.
5. Yudhvir Singh Charak: A budget pick in this category. Yudhvir Singh hits the deck hard and generates some additional bounce, making him an ideal middle-over bowler. There are also decent death-over skillsets, for he has done well with his yorkers in patches.
6. Anrich Nortje: Anrich Nortje’s value might not be as high as it used to be before. Hence, CSK can rope him at a reasonable price. He bowls hard lengths at pace, slowly getting to his best in the death overs, and CSK know how to extract the best out of experienced players.

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