Chennai Super Kings will start their IPL 2025 campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 23 - Here's the predicted playing XI for CSK including impact player options.
CSK's squad for IPL 2025
CSK made their intentions very clear at the auction. They wanted to maximise their spin strength at their Chepauk fortress. For that, they already had Ravindra Jadeja. Now the recalled R Ashwin, who had started off from there many years ago; and Noor Ahmad. To pair with Matheesha Pathirana, they have Sam Curran, who knows the surface having played for them before. In Nathan Ellis, they have a very good death-over specialist. And Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Anshul Kamboj, and Gurjapneet Singh provide good Indian options.
What about batting? Devon Conway is back, but is he a sure starter if Pathirana, Curran, and Noor all play? Or will Chennai back Rachin Ravindra, whose stocks have risen massively recently?
Find more details on the complete Chennai Super Kings squad for IPL 2025 here.
CSK predicted XI for IPL 2025
Let us assume the in-form Ravindra will start the league ahead of Conway. At No.3, Rahul Tripathi will fill Ajinkya Rahane’s vacant spot. Shivam Dube’s entry point may be determined by the match situation, allowing Deepak Hooda to come out accordingly. MS Dhoni usually bats below six, which would mean both Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran would bat ahead of him.
Read more: IPL 2025: Who are the youngest and oldest players this season?
As for the bowlers, CSK are really spoilt for choices. Jadeja, Ashwin, and Pathirana are sure starters. Perhaps so is Curran. For the fifth bowler, Noor is the likeliest to get the nod, though they may pick Ellis depending on the surface. One of the several Indian seamers can be used as the impact player, with Vijay Shankar being a batting impact player option if required.
Also read: IPL 2025: The strengths and weaknesses of each team
Predicted first XI: Rachin Ravindra*, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran*, MS Dhoni (wk), R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad*, Matheesha Pathirana*.
Impact player options (in order of priority): Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Vijay Shankar.
*overseas player
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