Chennai Super Kings, considered one of the most successful franchise teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), expanding their roster while eyeing a 17-year-old batsman in the IPL mega auction 2025. As per reports, CSK has called in Mumbai 17-year-old batting sensation Ayush Mhatre for a selection trial ahead of the auction. Further, it is believed that none other than Former India, CSK, captain too MS Dhoni was effusive in his praise for Mhatre. The fifth round of the Ranji Trophy ends on November 16 after which CSK has eight days in hand to access Mhatre in case he attends for the trial.
According to The Times of India, Mhatre’s evaluation was not limited to the talent evaluation by the talent scouts of CSK but also caught the attention of MS Dhoni. For this reason, Mhatre has been called by CSK for a trial after the five rounds of the Ranji Tournament are completed (on November 16), and before the inauguration of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. There is a six-day gap between the two.
This would give any concerns over the CSK evaluation of Mhatre prior to the mega auction on 24th and 25th convincing.
Mhatre during the Irani Cup match versus Rest of India, made his first-class debut for the team, Mumbai. In the company of Prithvi Shaw opening the batting, Mhatre scored 19 and 14 in the two innings respectively.
Mhatre’s stats for the team Mumbai so far are solid but not exceptional. He has accumulated 321 runs in five matches at 35.66 averaging including a century and a fifty. His hundred was an outstanding 176 against the team Maharashtra.
According to the report, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) was approached by Kasi Viswanathan, the Managing Director and CEO of CSK, to allow Mhatre to participate in a practice session at their CSKHPC Navalur grounds.
This time CSK will come for the mega auction with a purse of Rs 55 crore, having managed to retain players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube and Dhoni. In the event that they do purchase Mhatre, the youth might also be slotted at the top order along with captain Gaikwad.