CSK Calls Mumbai Batter To Tackle DC In IPL 2025!! Rahul Tripathi’s Spot In Danger

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have not made a sweet start to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, with two successive defeats in the previous two encounters against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals. They are currently in the seventh position with a net run rate of -0.771.

One of the biggest issues for the five-time champions is their opening partnership. Rahul Tripathi hasn’t contributed much to the franchise yet. In the previous encounter, chasing 183, they were 5/1 in three overs. It was Ruturaj Gaikwad, at number three, who displayed his power to make the changes.

CSK summons Mumbai's teenager for mid-season trials of IPL 2025

In the latest development, the reports have claimed that CSK has called Mumbai’s 17-year-old sensational opening batter, Ayush Mhatre, on Thursday for trials at Chepauk in Chennai. He could straightaway come into the Super Kings’ squad as a replacement for an injured or unavailable player.

Mhatre went unsold in the two-day mega auction last November in Jeddah. But the youngster flew to Chennai from Rajkot, where he was at the National Academy Zonal camp for the Under-19 players of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“Yes, we have called him for trials. He has impressed our talented scouts. But if there is any need, we will do that. We are not picking anybody. It’s just a trail.” The CSK MD and CEO, Kasi Viswanathan, expressed to TOI Sports.

The franchise also asked for the batter to report to the ground just before the mega auction. Ayush has played nine first-class games to smash 504 runs in 16 innings at an average of 31.50 and a strike rate of 72.93, scoring two centuries and one half-century at the best score of 176. In seven List-A innings, the right-handed batter has nailed 481 runs at a strike rate of 135.50.

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CSK struggles for fire in the powerplay batting

In all the seasons, Chennai has done well; they have defended against the supreme opening partnerships. The likes of Murali Vijay and Michael Hussey, Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum, Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson, Du Plessis and Gaikwad, or Gaikwad and Devon Conway, all of them have given the franchise a solid start.

But this year, the story is a little different. Rachin Ravindra smashed a fine unbeaten half-century in the opening clash against the Mumbai Indians at Chepauk to shoulder them over the winning margin. But Tripathi is yet to join the party.

In the very first game of the season, the CSK right-handed batter returned to the pavilion for a four-ball duck before managing just five runs in three balls in the following clash against RCB. Against the Royals, he struggled at the start before getting to 23 runs in 19 balls.

Despite being at number three, the CSK captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, has walked in the first couple of overs in every single encounter so far in the edition.

CSK seeks better batting performance vs Delhi Capitals

The heavy 50-run defeat against RCB damaged Chennai’s net run rate so much that it got converted into negative points. However, as their head coach, Stephen Fleming, revealed, it won’t be the right time to panic.

Their next home afternoon clash is against the Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. A victory can comfortably put the side on winning tracks. However, a defeat will create more pressure on the management to take nerve-wracking decisions.

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