IPL 2025: Ayush Mhatre to join CSK as Ruturaj Gaikwad's replacement

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have roped in opening batter Ayush Mhatre as a replacement for the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad for the remainder of the IPL 2025 (Indian Premier League). The latter was ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2025 after sustaining an elbow injury. He led CSK in the first five games before the injury ended his campaign. MS Dhoni took charge of the side in their most recent clash against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 11.

Notably, Mhatre made his first-class debut at the age of 17 for Mumbai in the 2024–25 Irani Cup. A few weeks later, he slammed his maiden first-class ton, scoring 176 against Maharashtra in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy. Mhatre became the youngest player to score 150-plus in men's List A cricket, surpassing the previous record set by Yashasvi Jaiswal. The talented batter has scored 504 runs from nine matches in first-class cricket at an average of 31.50 and a strike rate of 72.93. In List A cricket, he has managed 458 runs from seven matches at an average of 65.42, and he strikes at 135.50. He has two centuries and one fifty in each of the two formats.

CSK’s decision confirmed following reports

According to Cricbuzz, the five-time champions, reeling at the foot of the IPL points table, took the decision late on Saturday (April 13). He has been asked to join the franchise immediately, but the earliest he can link up with MS Dhoni and Co. is only a couple of days later. Mhatre, who had a base price of Rs 30 lakh, went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega-auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

"He will join the squad in Mumbai in a couple of days," a source close to CSK management told Cricbuzz. The CSK call-up came after the franchise called Mhatre to Chennai for trials along with a couple of other players – Gujarat's Urvil Patel and Kerala's Salman Nizar. Prithvi Shaw, out of favour with the IPL teams currently, was also in contention, but the team is understood to have gone ahead with Mhatre as a replacement for Gaikwad.

CSK have lost their last five games and will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Monday, April 14.

SRH sign Smaran Ravichandran as Zampa's replacement

Meanwhile, another IPL franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad, have also been plagued with an injury concern. In a fresh development, SRH have named youngster Smaran Ravichandran as Adam Zampa's replacement for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. While it still remains unknown as to what kind of injury the Australian leg spinner has sustained.

The 23-year-old all-rounder represents Karnataka and has been consistent in the domestic circuit in both white-ball and red-ball formats. Ravichandran is known for being a big hitter who is a middle-order batter. Besides, he is also a handy off-spin bowler, which surely brings balance to the Hyderabad-based franchise. So far he has featured in 7 First-Class games, 10 List A matches and 6 T20s, respectively.

During these games, the left-handed batter has scored over 1,100 runs from these matches.Notably, the cricketer was signed by SRH for INR 20 lakh. The side will hope for a strong finish after going through a harrowing start to their IPL campaign this year.