IPL 2025: Who Can CSK Sign to Replace Injured Ruturaj Gaikwad For Rest of the Season?

Add as a preferred source on Google

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be on the lookout for a temporary solution to fill the void left by Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing Indian Premier League season 18.

Gaikad misses the rest of the tournament due to an elbow injury, a hairline fracture which was revealed in the MRI after initial X-Rays were inconclusive. The 28-year-old, who led CSK in the first five matches of the season, picked up the injury during the match against Rajasthan Royals last week.

While they have a ready-made replacement to captain the side in veteran skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, CSK may look at external options to fill a batter's slot though they have some internal solutions in the form of Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Shaik Rasheed and more.

It is very unlikely that CSK will find a like-for-like replacement for Gaikwad, but with at least eight games to go after Friday's clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, the Chennai-based could do with another player who could bat in the top three. Here is a look at some of the options available and who CSK is likely to sign:

Who can CSK sign as replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad?

1. Prithvi Shaw: The Indian opener, who has fallen down the pecking order in the international circuit as well as the domestic stage, remained unsold at the IPL Mega Auction. The 26-year-old Shaw, however, presents a good aggressive opening option for CSK. In 79 IPL appearances, the former Delhi Capitals opener has scored 1892 runs including 18 fifties at a strike rate of 147.47.

2. Mayank Agarwal: The Karnataka skipper, who has also gone out of favour in terms of the Indian team selection, is another good opening option for CSK. Although his IPL performance faded leading him to be unsold, Mayank could be a good option, bringing in an experience of 127 matches in which he has scored 2661 runs, including 1 century and 13 fifties, at a strike rate of 133.05.

3. Sarfaraz Khan: The Mumbai batter may not be the opening or top three option, but his aggressive style of play could be a tempting choice for CSK. The 28-year-old Sarfaraz has been away from IPL from the past few seasons, but has played in 50 matches, scoring 585 runs at a strike rate of 130.58.

With an overseas slot also left vacant in the CSK squad, the franchise could also be tempted to look at someone like Dewald Brevis of South Africa and West Indies all-rounder Kyle Mayers, who could be an ideal batter for the top order if they are looking at some firepower up top.

Realistically CSK could go with someone who has already been tried at the francise, which leads us to a youngster from Mumbai in Ayush Mhatre. The India Under-19 cricketer was invited by CSK for a midseason trial possibly with a view to be roped in as replacement for Gaikwad.

The 17-year old right-hander made his domestic debut in the Irani Trophy last October, opening the innings for Mumbai with Prithvi Shaw and scored 19 runs. Mhatre is yet to make his professional T20 debut, but has played 9 first-class and 7 List A matches for Mumbai so far.

Also like Gaikwad, Mhatre bats in the top order and has already made headlines for being the youngest batter to hit a 150-plus score in List A cricket. So, CSK may sign the youngster if at all they want to bring in a replacement for Gaikwad, who has confirmed he will remain with the squad despite being ruled out for the season.