The Chennai Super Kings, the most successful IPL franchise, are ready to strengthen their legacy with a revamped squad for IPL 2025. After falling short of the playoffs last season, CSK has addressed key weaknesses and built a more balanced team.
Staying true to their tradition, they brought back familiar faces, ensuring continuity in the squad. Rahul Tripathi at No. 3 adds a crucial spin-hitting option alongside the dynamic Shivam Dube, while the No. 5 spot could see either Deepak Hooda or Vijay Shankar taking charge.
CSK’s bowling lineup has undergone a significant transformation. Noor Ahmed joins the spin department alongside the returning R. Ashwin, back with the team after 2015. The pace attack looks sharp with Matheesha Pathirana retained as the spearhead, supported by the likes of Khaleel Ahmed and Sam Curran.
This mix of experienced players and promising talent puts CSK in a strong position to bounce back and aim for another title run. Let’s dive deeper into their team dynamics and chances for the upcoming IPL season.
STRENGTHS
Retained Core Group: Chennai Super Kings have kept their key players intact, including Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and Matheesha Pathirana. They’ve also brought back familiar faces like Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Sam Curran, and Ravichandran Ashwin. These players know the CSK setup well, and their experience could help maintain stability and team cohesion.
Versatile Spin Attack: CSK’s spin department looks incredibly strong. With Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin leading the charge, they’ve added Noor Ahmed, a promising chinaman bowler with recent success, to bring variety. Shreyas Gopal is also available as a reliable backup, making their spin attack one of the most balanced and effective in the tournament.
WEAKNESSES
Limited power-hitting in the lower order: While CSK has a strong top and middle order, they lack consistency in the lower order. MS Dhoni has delivered in the death overs, but aging has limited his ability to finish games. Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran’s recent performances have failed to inspire the confidence required for a powerful lower-order attack.
Challenges in Death Bowling: CSK’s Matheesha Pathirana is a solid death-over specialist, but the other end is still a concern. With Tushar Deshpande no longer in the squad, the club must find a reliable partner for Pathirana. Both Sam Curran and Khaleel Ahmed have struggled with high economy in the death overs, possibly putting the team under pressure in tight games.
OPPORTUNITIES
Chance for a Winning Comeback: Chennai Super Kings are known for bouncing back after tough seasons. They had disappointing IPL campaigns in 2020 and 2022 but returned to win the trophy in 2021 and 2023. After a below-par performance last season, CSK has a great chance to write another comeback story and aim for the title once again.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Leadership Growth: Ruturaj Gaikwad has been chosen by MS Dhoni as the team’s future captain. Although his first stint as captain didn’t go as planned, he has the talent and potential to lead CSK to success. IPL 2025 presents him with an opportunity to step up, learn from past experiences, and carry forward the legacy of this iconic franchise.
THREATS
Outdated T20 strategy: CSK’s success has often come from sticking with familiar players and their tried-and-tested approach. However, with modern T20 cricket evolving and teams scoring 250+ runs more frequently, their traditional style might not work anymore. The team also lacks explosive hitters compared to others, which could limit their firepower.
Struggles away from home: CSK’s dominance at Chepauk, where they have the best home record, is well-known. However, their pace attack lacks variety, and playing on pitches outside Chennai might expose this weakness. This could make it tough for them to compete consistently in away games, especially against teams with more balanced line-ups.
Chennai Super Kings squad for the IPL 2025
Retained Players: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni
Players Picked in the Auction: Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Anshul Kamboj, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Vansh Bedi, Mukesh Choudhary, Shreyas Gopal, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Andre Siddharth, Shaik Rasheed
Chennai Super Kings Probable XI and Impact Player for the IPL 2025
Probable XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed (Impact)
CONCLUSION & RATINGS OUT OF 10
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have built a well-balanced squad for IPL 2025 by retaining their core group and bringing back familiar faces like Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, and Sam Curran. Their spin department, featuring Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin, and Noor Ahmad, looks strong, while the pace unit, led by Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, and Sam Curran, looks promising.
However, the team lacks explosive hitters in the lower order and a reliable Indian death bowler, which could impact their performance in high-scoring games or away matches. CSK’s strength lies in their ability to make comebacks, and with experienced players, they remain strong contenders.
Rating: 8/10
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