With a packed purse and a mission to rebuild, CSK eyes rising stars from TNPL
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has evolved into a carnival of cricketing skill, with new stars emerging and stalwarts cementing their legacies. With the IPL 2025 mega auction approaching, all eyes are on which players will get a coveted IPL contract. This season, the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) has produced young, aggressive players who have the potential to inject new energy into existing IPL teams.
The Super 5️⃣ Retentions of CSK ! 🦁#WhistlePodu #CSK #IPL2025 #Yellove
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The Chennai Super Kings (CSK), with a budget of INR 55 crore, are preparing to sign players that would catapult them into a new era. With MS Dhoni and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad retained and a team core intact, searching for fresh new TNPL players might transform CSK's lineup. Here are five TNPL talents that may be perfect auction options for CSK this season.
The CSK spin department, led by Ravindra Jadeja, might benefit from Jhathavedh Subramanyan's special skills. He is known for his fast legbreaks and has thrived in the TNPL for the Lyca Kovai Kings by efficiently challenging batters. In the TNPL final versus Dindigul Dragons, he successfully ruled important players R Ashwin and B Indrajith.
Despite being ambidextrous, he focuses on leg spin, which adds dimension to CSK's bowling. With Chepauk as their home ground, a spinner like Jhathavedh might be essential, using his accuracy to turn games.
If CSK is looking for a young spinner who excels under pressure, P. Vignesh is an excellent choice. In the TNPL, he competes with players like Ashwin and has demonstrated his skills with an impressive economy rate of 6.19, especially during the powerplay and middle overs.
Vignesh had a massive effect in the final, taking critical wickets with his left-arm spin and demonstrating his talent in crucial circumstances. His arrival to CSK's lineup would provide Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad with a consistent powerplay spinner, essential in T20 cricket.
Mohamed Ali is a talented off-spinner and deadly batter who performed well in the TNPL with IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans. His precise bowling and crisp hitting make him an excellent all-rounder. He excels at extracting bounce and spin from sluggish Chepauk pitches with his high arm motion.
In a remarkable effort against Lyca Kovai Kings, he hit an unbeaten 45 off 23 deliveries. CSK benefits from his versatility as a spinner and lower-order pinch-hitter.
Every successful T20 side needs a good bowler for pivotal occasions, and with Deepak Chahar’s departure,Nellai Royal Kings' Sonu Yadav meets the description. He is known as a hard-hitting seam-bowling all-rounder for his devastating yorkers and deceiving slower balls. This season, he had an excellent strike rate of 163.88.
Sonu Yadav Smashing a six in TNPL match // Picture Courtesy –DT Next
CSK emphasises seamers' death-over abilities, and Yadav's striking and fast bowling makes him an ideal candidate. Under Dhoni's guidance, he might become an important member of CSK's bowling setup.
CSK has recently discovered new batting talents, and Shivam Singh could be their next gem. The Dindigul Dragons opener topped the TNPL with 364 runs, demonstrating stability and the ability to accelerate. His flair for hitting over the off-side and scooping behind the wicket adds unpredictability to the T20 top order.
Shivam's match-winning106* proves his ability to perform under pressure. With Dhoni's guidance at Chepauk, he could thrive in CSK's yellow, spearheading the drive at the top of the order.
CSK's focus on seasoned players and young skills makes TNPL stars vital for the future. The TNPL has been a tremendous source of IPL finds, and the next IPL 2025 auction may see CSK add these young guns to their quest for IPL supremacy.