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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have brought their veteran MS Dhoni back in the captaincy role after their regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad got ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The right-handed batter picked up an elbow injury during the match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati on March 30.
After Ruturaj Gaikwad’s exit, CSK will look to fill the 28-year-old’s shoes with a player who can deliver effective knocks to them while batting at the top order. There are three names who are the favourites to win the spot in Chennai. These three players went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah but with the new development, they can now be seen donning CSK colours.
Here are three players who can replace Ruturaj Gaikwad in CSK
3. Ayush Mhatre
Mumbai opener Ayush Mhatre didn’t get any buyer in the auction but now, he is a part of the CSK camp for mid-season trials. After getting snubbed at the business event, the 17-year-old played magnificently for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. He notched up 458 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 135.50 and became the most successful batter for his domestic side in the competition.
2. Prithvi Shaw
Prithvi Shaw is another player who can get the opportunity to play for CSK in the upcoming games. The young opener has come under criticism for not maintaining discipline while playing for Mumbai in domestic cricket, however, he possesses a lot of IPL experience as he was a vital member of Delhi Capitals from 2018 to 2024.
1. Mayank Agarwal
Mayank Agarwal’s IPL form plummeted after 2021 and his downfall eventually cost him in the 2025 auction. The Karnataka batter’s name was announced with his base amount of INR one crore but no franchise raised paddles for him.
After getting unsold in the auction, Mayank performed spectacularly for his domestic team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024/25. The 34-year-old hoarded 651 runs in 10 contests at a strike rate of 107.60 and played an instrumental role in Karnataka’s title win. Noting his current form, Dhoni and CSK team management might call him to fill their captain’s spot.
