Chennai Super Kings are gearing up for the new season, having performed fairly well in the auction and secured some of the best players. With a mix of young and international talent, the team will look to capitalise on this combination. As mentioned, they have a promising group of young players, both international and national, which provides the team with various options. If a big name underperforms, these young players can step up.

However, one space where CSK can particularly utilise such players is as impact substitutes. The Impact Player rule in the IPL, initially, the rule was under scrutiny with concerns about diminishing the role of all-rounders, it allows teams to name five substitute players in addition to their playing XI before a match.

After the match starts, the captains of both teams can nominate any one of these five substitutes to replace a player in the starting XI during any natural break in the match. These breaks include the start of an innings, the end of an over, the fall of a wicket, or when a batter retires.

In this scenario, if CSK needs to create some substitutes, who are the players that could make an impressive impact for IPL 2025? See three potential players who could do well as impactful substitutes for the team.

Rachin Ravindra

Can CSK, who already understand how Ravindra could be lethal on Indian pitches, use him as an impact substitute? Since finding a spot in the playing XI seems difficult, this approach could work. There are chances that Devon Conway and Ravindra may miss a few games in the IPL due to national team commitments. However, if Ravindra plays, as mentioned, CSK already has other players who fit the XI better than Ravindra, making space for him difficult.

But, as an impact player, he could make a significant difference for the team. In the last IPL, although CSK was eliminated before the playoffs, we saw how his hitting abilities came to light. He didn’t score many runs, but as a top-order batter, he got starts and did well. If CSK decides to experiment and place him in the middle order, he could destroy bowlers in the last few overs of the game. He could work as an impressive impact substitute for CSK, but it all depends on how many foreign players CSK chooses in the playing XI.

Vansh Bedi

One of the emerging names who took the DPL 2024 by storm, Bedi made 221 runs in 8 games with an unbelievable strike rate of 186. While chasing targets, he easily touches a strike rate of 200. After giving good times to Dilli 6, Bedi will now look to wear the CSK jersey proudly.

However, since the camp has a player like MS Dhoni, who is set to play a big role, making space for this youngster in the playing XI might be challenging. The only way he can come up and destroy bowlers is as an impact substitute, and he could undoubtedly be the one to turn things around quickly for CSK.

Noor Ahmad

Can CSK make a place for Noor Ahmad in every game? Since CSK got him at a hefty price, but if this scenario doesn’t materialize, the camp already has players like R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who are likely going to be regulars. So, making space for Noor Ahmad could be difficult. However, they could use him as an impact substitute, and surely the amount of IPL experience he has now could make him a game changer for CSK in IPL 2025.

Cricket Indian Premier League (IPL)Chennai Super Kings