Last Updated on 1 week by Charbel Coorey

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to field a strong playing 11 for IPL 2025, targeting a sixth title. They retained an experienced core of players, reunited with former players, and picked up arguably the steal of the mega auction in Sam Curran.

There are undeniable strengths in the CSK squad, with numerous quality bowling options to test batting lineups. However, their middle-lower order is a potential weakness, so how they address this will be interesting to see.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad for IPL 2025

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana (OS), Shivam Dube, Noor Ahmad (OS), Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway (OS), Khaleel Ahmed, MS Dhoni, Rachin Ravindra (OS), Rahul Tripathi, Anshu Kamboj, Sam Curran (OS), Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis (OS), Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton (OS), Vijay Shankar, Vansh Bedi, Mukesh Choudhary, Shaik Rasheed, Andre Siddharth, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shreyas Iyer.

CSK Predicted Playing 11 for start of IPL 2025 season

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), 2. Devon Conway (OS), 3. Rahul Tripathi, 4. Shivam Dube, 5. Rachin Ravindra/Sam Curran (OS), 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. MS Dhoni (wk), 8. R Ashwin, 9. Noor Ahmad (OS), 10. Matheesha Pathrirana (OS), 11. Khaleel Ahmed

CSK have a solid squad and different options to choose from. However, they have questions to answer, particularly around their finishing. The purchase of Jamie Overton could help them in this regard, as he boasts a strike rate of 176.3 in the final five overs of T20s since the start of 2021. Sam Curran is also capable of batting in the middle and offers a left-arm bowling option.

However, much will depend on conditions. Noor Ahmad was CSK’s most expensive purchase in the 2025 mega auction (INR 10 crore), so there will be the desire to play him. This leaves three overseas slots, likely to be occupied by Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra and Matheesha Pathirana.

But, will number five be too low for Ravindra? Perhaps. Shivam Dube has occupied the number four position well, taking advantage of those middle overs as Kumar Sangakkara identified a few years ago. CSK may feel Curran is the better option.

CSK also have the impressive Nathan Ellis in their ranks, who is a good backup for Matheesha Pathirana and alternative to Noor Ahmad if conditions demand more pace bowling.

Coach Stephen Fleming has pinpointed Noor’s role. “The Noor Ahmad pick was looking more at the middle [overs] to attack. So if we do get turning conditions, then we’ve got an opportunity to keep taking wickets. We’ve got [Matheesha] Pathirana at the end, which is the death aspect,” he said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

All in all, the XI looks a competitive one, with Jadeja and Ashwin reunited. Tom Moody was “a little bit surprised” by Ashwin’s INR 9.75 crore price tag, but Fleming believes he will be a good fit.

“It’s not so much the price – you look at how someone fits in, and there’s an emotional attachment for Ashwin with Chennai, so it’s a nice fit,” Fleming said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “He has still got a very good skillset; his numbers are fantastic. He’s obviously towards the latter part of his career, but the experience he brings, he’s handy with the bat, and we think we can use him in a number of ways.”

and a top four consisting mainly of Indian talent. How Rahul Tripathi performs will be key, and of course Ruturaj Gaikwad and Dube are vital to their hopes of big totals.

So, what do you make of this possible 11 for CSK for IPL 2025? Does it need more punch in the middle or does the Dube-Ravindra/Curran-Jadeja trio provide enough threat?