Best Playing XI for CSK at IPL 2025 with Impact Sub: What would be MS Dhoni’s role in Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side?

Here comes the joint-most successful franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Their fan base got the major boost even before the IPL 2025 mega auction, when a new “uncapped” rule allowed the franchise to retain their biggest name, MS Dhoni. Thala continues for another season, filling each and every CSK fan with excitement. But what about other players? How will the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side shape up this upcoming season? On that note, let us take a look at the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) best-playing XI with an Impact Sub for IPL 2025.

CSK at IPL 2025: Ruturaj Gaikwad-Devon Conway reunion at top

After Devon Conway missed the entire IPL 2024, we have once again the opening duo of him and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. The two compliment each other quite well, as both batters mix caution with aggression. The duo racked up two 100+ opening stands at IPL 2023, including a 143-run stand against Delhi Capitals (DC). For CSK, Conway has played 23 games and made 924 runs at 48.63 at SR of under 142. Gaikwad, meanwhile, has mustered 2380 runs at an average of 41.75.

At number, CSK should play Rahul Tripathi, who was signed for Rs 3.40 crore. We previously mentioned as well that Tripathi would be a perfect fit at CSK. Just like the franchise revived Ajinkya Rahane’s career, Tripathi could resurrect his career. After all, he has all the abilities to shine through. In both 2022 and 2023, Tripathi scored over 500 runs in the format. In fact, in 2022, he operated at a SR of 153.58. The Indian international has been lost after a sudden surge a few years back, but will be a dark horse at CSK.

IPL 2025: Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni & versatility in middle-order

There surely is versality in CSK’s middle order, like we are used to seeing. CSK bulk their batting lineup with several options, and similar is the case now as well. Batting extends to number nine in this playing XI, including an Impact sub, of course. Shivam Dube, the CSK’s Rs 12 crore retention, will be the middle-overs destructor. Now a T20 World Cup winner, Dube will be ever so confident going into the next season.

At number five, CSK have two options in Deepak Hooda and Vijay Shankar. While Shankar is a local veteran, Hooda has way more international experience. Considering their forms, CSK should include one of them in the lineup. While Hooda adds an extra spin option, Shankar is a handy medium pacer.

The joint-costliest CSK player, Ravindra Jadeja, also adds versatility. Jaddu has 332 T20s to his name and has scored 3684 runs. The wily spinner has taken 225 at a superb economy rate of 7.59. We have MS Dhoni quite fittingly at number seven! MS Dhoni will continue his legacy in IPL as he embarks on a fresh journey, this time as an uncapped player.

The CSK management were delighted by Thala’s confirmation and made it very clear that MS Dhoni was a sure-shot retention. Dhoni has been retained for Rs 4 crore by CSK and has taken a pay cut from what he used to earn previously. It remains to be seen how Dhoni would take care of his injuries and fitness in his 18th season of the cash-rich league.

More on IPL 2025

Who would be the extra batter with the Impact Sub rule?

Now comes an important cog as well—an extra batter owing to the Impact Player rule. This would allow CSK to give support to their already stacked batting. Rahul Tripathi should fit as an impact player. Youngsters Shaik Rasheed and Andre Siddharth could be other options too, but CSK are expected to give the experience of Tripathi a chance first.

CSK at IPL 2025: Ashwin comes back, Pathirana crucial

Despite including an extra batter with the Impact player rule, CSK still boasts over 6 bowling options! This is the reason why the franchise gets attracted to multi-faceted players. At numbers eight and nine are the former CSK returnees Sam Curran and Ravichandran Ashwin. While Curran was swooped in for just Rs 2.40 crore, Ashwin cost a whopping Rs 9.75 crore. Curran, at less than Rs 3 crore, is a steal. He can bat anywhere. He can field anywhere and is a safe fielder too! The other options for his spot are Jamie Overton and Rachin Ravindra, but this batting slot is way too low for the New Zealander.

Talking about Ashwin, it is a heartening homecoming for him. He is already CSK academy’s head and is a Tamil Nadu superstar. The veteran off-spinner started his IPL journey at CSK, where he picked up 120 wickets, including 30 in the Champions League T20. Ashwin’s knack for improvement despite his age (38) is a huge display of sportsmanship by the former PBKS captain.

Matheesha Pathirana and Khaleel Ahmed are the two premier pacers. While Pathirana was retained for Rs 13 crore, Khaleel was picked up for less than Rs 5 crore. For CSK, the Lankan pacers’ retention comes as no surprise, given that he has gone on to become one of CSK’s lethal bowlers. He entered the CSK camp in 2022 as a replacement for Adam Milne but went out and made a name for himself instead, earning him the title ‘baby Malinga’. With 34 wickets from 20 matches, Pathirana has been a consistent wickettaker for the side since his debut in 2022. It must be mentioned that Pathirana is having a crazy 2024, where he has picked up 62 wickets at an economy of 7.70 across just 35 innings in T20s!

Talking about Khaleel, he is an excellent signing too. His left-arm angle will be superbly used under the tutelage of MS Dhoni, who has the liking of left-arm pacers. He had a decent IPL 2024 for DC, taking 17 wickets across 14 innings. The other pace bowling options on the bench would be Mukesh Chodhary, Gurjapneet Singh, and Anshul Kamboj.

Note, this is a batting first XI. Hence, someone like Rahul Tripathi could be subbed out in the second innings to make way for either Noor Ahmad or Nathan Ellis, as per conditions.

Best Playing XI for MI for IPL 2025 (batting first)

S No.	Player	Role
1	Rutraj Gaikwad	Batter & Captain
2	Devon Conway (O)	Batter
3	Rahul Tripathi	Batter
4	Shivam Dube	Batting all-rounder
5	Deepak Hooda/Vijay Shankar	Batting all-rounder
6	Ravindra Jadeja	All-rounder
7	MS Dhoni	Keeper
8	Sam Curran (O)	All-rounder
9	Ravichandran Ashwin	All-rounder
10	Matheesha Pathirana (O)	Bowler
11	Khaleel Ahmed	Bowler

Best Playing XI for CSK for IPL 2025 (bowling first): If CSK bowls first, Rahul Tripathi starts on the bench, and CSK slot in either of Noor Ahmad or Nathan Ellis (as per conditions) in the first innings. In the second innings, they must swap.

CSK IPL 2025 auction picks

Devon Conway ✈️(Rs 6.25 crore), Rahul Tripathi (Rs 3.40 crore), Rachin Ravindra ✈️(Rs 4 crore), Ravichandran Ashwin (Rs 9.75 crore), Khaleel Ahmed (Rs 4.80 crore), Noor Ahmad ✈️(Rs 10 crore), Vijay Shankar (Rs 1.20 crore), Sam Curran ✈️(Rs 2.40 crore), Shaik Rasheed (Rs 30 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (Rs 3.40 crore), Mukesh Choudhary (Rs 30 lakh), Deepak Hooda (Rs 1.70 crore), Gurjapneet Singh (Rs 2.20 crore), Nathan Ellis ✈️(Rs 2 crore), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Rs 30 lakh), Ramakrishna Ghosh (Rs 30 lakh), Shreyas Gopal (Rs 30 lakh), Vansh Bedi (Rs 55 lakh), Andre Siddharth (Rs 30 lakh), Jamie Overton ✈️(Rs 1.5 crore)

CSK retained players list

Ruturaj Gaikwad (Rs 18 crore), Ravindra Jadeja (Rs 18 crore), Shivam Dube (Rs 12 crore), Matheesha Pathirana ✈️(Rs 13 crore), MS Dhoni (Rs 4 crore)