Chennai Super Kings finished fifth last year, securing seven wins and seven losses. They missed out on a playoff spot as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) edged them out on net run rate.
Table of Contents
Best Likely XI for IPL 2025
- Devon Conway / Rachin Ravindra
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain)
- Rahul Tripathi
- Deepak Hooda / Vijay Shankar
- Shivam Dube
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Sam Curran
- MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper)
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Noor Ahmad / Nathan Ellis
- Matheesha Pathirana
- Khaleel Ahmed
Full Squad
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Andre Siddarth C, Shaik Rasheed, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Sam Curran, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, MS Dhoni, Vansh Bedi, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shreyas Gopal, Matheesha Pathirana, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Gurjapneet Singh, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed
CSK’s 2025 Setup: Balancing Consistency with Change
Chennai Super Kings have long relied on stability in both personnel and strategy, a formula that has earned them five IPL titles, including two in the last four seasons. This year, however, their reinforcements include familiar faces—Ravichandran Ashwin, Sam Curran, and Vijay Shankar—all returning to the franchise after years away. Devon Conway, who missed IPL 2024 due to injury, has also been brought back.
While traditionally favoring finger spinners, CSK made an exception this season by investing INR 10 crore in Noor Ahmad, a 20-year-old left-arm wristspinner from Afghanistan. He joins Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to form a potent spin attack suited for favorable conditions.
In the batting order, Rahul Tripathi is set to take over the No. 3 spot, a role previously held by Ajinkya Rahane and Robin Uthappa. Given CSK’s reputation for reviving struggling IPL careers—evident in the resurgence of Rahane, Uthappa, and Shivam Dube—the team has also picked up Shreyas Gopal, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, and Deepak Hooda, players looking for a fresh start.
Despite their commitment to continuity, CSK is not immune to change. They have missed the playoffs only three times in their history, but two of those instances came in the last three seasons. As the Ruturaj Gaikwad era unfolds, CSK seeks to adapt while maintaining their core strengths. With evolving home conditions at Chepauk, where spin has been less dominant in recent years, the franchise has made strategic investments in Ashwin and Noor Ahmad, hoping to restore their traditional advantage.
With a deep roster of all-rounders—including Dube, Jadeja, Ashwin, Vijay Shankar, Hooda, Ravindra, and Jamie Overton—CSK boasts an abundance of both bowling resources and batting firepower.
Watch Out For
Spin Mastreos Back At It
The significant bids for Ashwin and Noor, along with the presence of Jadeja’s left-arm spin, Gopal’s leg-spin, and Hooda’s part-time off-spin, signal CSK’s intent to revive their renowned spin-heavy approach at Chepauk. In IPL 2024, pacers dominated with 74 wickets at the venue, while spinners managed only 25. Even during the 2023 ODI World Cup, the pitch favored bounce and pace for fast bowlers, but conditions could shift in IPL 2025.
Noor Ahmad
The 20-year-old Afghan left-arm wrist-spinner has already made a mark in T20 leagues worldwide, featuring in 23 IPL matches across two seasons and claiming 24 wickets. However, his third season—his first with CSK—could be his breakthrough moment, elevating him to the ranks of compatriot Rashid Khan.
At INR 10 crore, Noor was CSK’s most expensive signing at the mega auction, with the franchise outbidding Mumbai Indians and preventing Gujarat Titans from using the Right To Match (RTM) card. If Chennai’s pitches offer any assistance to spinners, Noor could prove to be a nightmare for opposition batters in the middle overs.
Sam Curran
Sam Curran, currently out of England’s squads in all formats, has a chance to make a statement with a strong IPL season. CSK’s attempt to push Jadeja up the order in 2024 didn’t yield the expected results, but Curran, who excelled at No. 4 for Desert Vipers in ILT20, offers greater flexibility in the batting lineup. He will also be a key figure in the death overs with the ball, particularly at Chepauk.
Just over two years ago, Sam Curran was the standout performer at the T20 World Cup in Australia, which led to Punjab Kings securing him for INR 18.50 crore. His domestic success continued with consecutive Hundred titles, including an MVP-winning campaign. However, despite earning over 100 England caps, the 26-year-old has surprisingly fallen out of favor at the international level, with Brendon McCullum overlooking him even as England struggles in white-ball cricket.
At the IPL 2024 auction, Curran didn’t attract a bidding war before CSK snapped him up for INR 2.4 crore—a move that could prove to be a masterstroke. If deployed as a middle-order batter, where he has recently excelled, he could be a game-changer. He struck his maiden T20 century in last year’s Vitality Blast and had a strong campaign with the Desert Vipers, whom he led to the ILT20 final. A standout IPL season could put him right back in contention for England’s white-ball rebuild.
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni delivered his most explosive IPL season in 2024, striking at 220.54—his highest ever—while amassing 161 runs off just 73 balls, including 14 fours and 13 sixes. As he approaches 43, the question remains: can he still dominate the death overs with the same impact?
Shivam Dube
Since joining CSK in 2022, Shivam Dube has been a nightmare for spinners, boasting a strike rate of nearly 159 against them—the highest among 13 batters with at least 30 IPL innings against spin.
Khaleel Ahmed
Meanwhile, CSK’s interest in Khaleel Ahmed as a potential replacement for Deepak Chahar is well-founded. In IPL 2024, Khaleel picked up eight wickets in 14 powerplay innings at an economy of 8.87. Only Trent Boult, Mitchell Starc, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Vaibhav Arora took more wickets in this phase last season.
Concern
Squad Depth and Selection Dilemma
TNPL standout Gurjapneet Singh, who was sidelined during the second phase of the Ranji Trophy due to injury, has regained full fitness. However, with Sam Curran and Khaleel Ahmed already occupying key roles as CSK’s primary left-arm seamers, finding a spot for another left-armer in the XI or XII seems unlikely. At present, CSK have a fully fit squad available for selection.
Fixture Challenges and Key Home Ground Stat
Chennai Super Kings have traditionally built their campaigns on a dominant home record. This season, they will aim for a strong start, playing four of their first six matches at Chepauk, including marquee clashes against MI and RCB. A solid points tally early on will be crucial, as their run-in features three away fixtures in the final four games, including challenging trips to Bengaluru and Ahmedabad—venues where they faltered at the same stage last year.
Last season, CSK’s spinners struggled at home, picking up just five wickets at an average of 55.40—their worst-ever figures in both categories. However, they were economical, conceding only 6.92 runs per over. With Gaikwad at the helm, CSK will hope for more impact in the middle overs to reduce the pressure on their death bowlers.
Read More: IPL 2025: Top 5 Batters with Highest Individual Scores in IPL History
FAQs
Who is the captain of Chennai Super Kings for IPL 2025?
Ruturaj Gaikwad has taken over as CSK captain for IPL 2025, replacing MS Dhoni, who will continue playing as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
What is CSK’s biggest strength in IPL 2025?
CSK’s key strengths include their experienced core with MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Sam Curran, a strong spin attack featuring Noor Ahmad, Ashwin, and Jadeja, and their home advantage at Chepauk.
Who are CSK’s most expensive signings for IPL 2025?
CSK’s costliest acquisition in the IPL 2025 auction was Noor Ahmad (INR 10 crores), a rising Afghan spinner who has taken 24 wickets in two IPL seasons.
What are CSK’s main weaknesses in IPL 2025?
CSK’s concerns include a lack of a reliable pace spearhead, uncertainty over the form and fitness of key players like Devon Conway, Sam Curran, and MS Dhoni, and a potential reduction in Chepauk’s spin-friendly conditions.
Can CSK win IPL 2025 with their current squad?
CSK have a balanced team with a mix of experienced players and new signings, but their title hopes depend on Gaikwad’s captaincy, Dhoni’s finishing form, and their pace attack stepping up in crucial matches.
