Chennai Super Kings have always believed in retaining their core group and they did the same this year too before IPL 2025 auction. Retaining the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni, CSK only strengthened their batting line-up by buying back some of their released players apart from making some strategic buys. While their batting order does not look as intimidating as the rest of the teams, it is still a strong and well-oiled unit as it has always been the case with the five-time champions.
CSK best batting line-up for IPL 2025
- Devon Conway
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Rachin Ravindra
- Rahul Tripathi
- Shivam Dube
- MS Dhoni
Gaikwad-Conway combo to continue!
Known for producing opening pairs that turn out to be a hit, CSK did the same this year by ensuring that they bought back Devon Conway in the mega auction. The duo of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Conway are no strangers to playing together at the top of the order and have tasted more success than failures. Young Gaikwad, who succeeded MS Dhoni as CSK’s captain in IPL 2024, has seen a meteoric rise ever since he made his debut with the franchise. A consistent contributor with the bat, the Maharashtra batter has already amassed 2380 runs in 66 IPL matches and has an impeccable strike rate of 136.86.
His opening partner Devon Conway has been an instant hit since the time he joined CSK. With his expertise of opening for New Zealand in the international circuit, the batter is the apt partner for Gaikwad, with 924 runs from 23 IPL matches. The main reason for the success of CSK’s opening duo is their ability to complement each other very well and accelerate at will.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 66 | 2380 | 41.75 | 136.86 |
| Devon Conway | 23 | 924 | 48.63 | 141.28 |
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Rachin Ravindra returns at no.3, Rahul Tripathi new Rahane for CSK
New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra is another star that CSK went all out to buy back at the IPL 2025 mega auction. In his very first year with the Men in Yellove, the southpaw proved his worth with all-round contributions, especially with the bat. He will most likely essay the role of number three batter, moving on from his role as an opener in IPL 2024 where he filled in for an injured Devon Conway. In 10 matches, he scored 221 runs at a strike rate of 160.87.
CSK did not opt to bid for veteran Ajinkya Rahane at the mega auction. Instead, they went after another old guard who has been closely associated with MS Dhoni in the past. The five-time champs bagged seasoned veteran Rahul Tripathi for Rs 3.4 crore, making him more or less a like-for-like replacement for Rahane. Tripathi will be CSK’s new number four batter. With 2236 runs to his name in IPL, Rahul is no stranger to batting in the middle-order and has often anchored the innings for the teams he has been a part of in the past.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
| Rachin Ravindra | 10 | 222 | 22.20 | 160.87 |
| Rahul Tripathi | 95 | 2236 | 27.27 | 139.31 |
Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni as finishers
Explosive batter Shivam Dube, another CSK find, will be the team’s primary finisher and will bat at number 5. The Mumbai batter has displayed his ability to pump huge maximums out of the ground at will, both in IPL and in T20Is, making him one of the most invaluable players for CSK. Last but not the least, is the OG finisher – MS Dhoni. CSK and MSD are synonymous and no playing XI can be made by leaving the former skipper out. Thala’s numbers speak for themselves and his reputation for finishing off games for CSK with his trademark calm & composed attitude is something that shines bright to date. And should either of MS Dhoni or Shivam Dube fail to fire, then the team always has the ever-dependable Ravindra Jadeja to do the job. On another note, MS Dhoni is unlikely to walk in to bat ahead of Jadeja, unless and until the situation demands.
The team also has the likes of Deepak Hooda, Sam Curran, young Andre Sidharth, Vijay Shankar who can act as back-up finishers for the side.
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