The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have lost their engine. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has been unfortunately ruled out of the IPL 2025, leaving them with a gaping hole for the rest of the season.
Yes, CSK can look outwards and sign someone like Prithvi Shaw, but what about a replacement within their IPL 2025 squad? Well, experienced campaigners Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda have been given opportunities but they are surely in the fag end of their careers.
Need youth over ageing players
The “old” formula of prioritising experience over youth is perhaps having a cobra effect over CSK now. With ten final appearances in the IPL, CSK is truly the most successful franchise in IPL history. In a period of five years when they chose experience over everything, CSK had their major success, winning three titles (2018, 2021, 2023) in the process. But now, the blueprint seems to be a recognition of past history.
After facing four back-to-back defeats, CSK need what we call exuberance of youth. And who better to add, in the absence of Gaikwad, than Vansh Bedi? The 22-year-old is somewhat of an unknown commodity, but his talent won’t be a mystery for long. Bedi, born in Delhi, has played just one T20 match for his state, but wasn’t lucky enough to get a chance to bat in that game.
What can Vansh Bedi do?
But what prompt CSK to splash Rs 55 lac? Well, it was purely because of the talent Bedi showed in the Delhi Premier League T20 2024. Playing for Rishabh Pant’s Purani Dilli 6, the youngster played well beyond his years and looked like a proper T20 talent.
He wasn’t afraid of going down town from the word go, and his tournament strike rate of 185.71 goes to show that. Also, when Pant got out after a sluggish 35, in his only apperance, Bedi played his first ball of T20 and whacked that for a mighty six via a powerful pull shot.
His quick-fire 47 off 19 balls instantly made headlines within Delhi cricket and he followed up with a great campaign. Leave aside a couple of failure, Bedi also hit a magnificent 96-run knock off just 41 balls.
All in all, CSK management should give a crack at Bedi, who enjoys a massive upside. He’s agile and has a number of shots in his repertoire. Having him at number three could have CSK an X-factor that they dearly need up the order.
Vansh Bedi at DPLT20 2024
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Runs | 221 |
| Inns | 8 |
| Average | 44.20 |
| Strike rate | 185.71 |
Worst batting run rate in powerplay
| Pos | Team | M | R | Outs | Avg | SR | HS | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chennai Super Kings | 5 | 225 | 8 | 28.12 | 125.00 | 62 | 3 |
| 2 | Delhi Capitals | 4 | 187 | 8 | 23.38 | 129.86 | 58 | 7 |
| 3 | Gujarat Titans | 5 | 260 | 5 | 52.00 | 144.44 | 66 | 13 |
| 4 | Mumbai Indians | 5 | 260 | 10 | 26.00 | 144.44 | 64 | 13 |
| 5 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 5 | 263 | 8 | 32.88 | 146.11 | 90 | 19 |
| 6 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 5 | 274 | 12 | 22.83 | 152.22 | 94 | 8 |
