IPL 2025: Ayush Mhatre shows kind, finesse beyond his years | Cricket News – The Times of India

Chennai Super Kings’ Ayush Mhatre (PTI Photo)

Just 17, Mumbaikar holds the beacon as CSK shift focus from seniors to youth
BENGALURU: The curtain might have been drawn on Chennai Super Kings’ marketing campaign a lot sooner than they’re recognized to this IPL season, however the future seems vibrant. Branded ‘Dads’ Army’ not way back, CSK now have a sprinkling of kids, a mix of youngsters and gamers of their 20s simply raring to go.
Evidence of this came visiting the weekend in opposition to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Chasing 214 for victory, CSK appeared on the right track till the ultimate over — certainly the ultimate supply — earlier than agonizingly falling quick.
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The photograph end was down largely to 1 man — or fairly, boy — 17-yr-previous Ayush Mhatre. Displaying maturity far beyond his years and the 4 IPL matches he has featured in to this point, Mhatre was a veritable pocket-Hercules, the teenager wanting extra snug and assured than most of the senior execs within the line-up.
Who’s that IPL participant?
Consider this: Of the fourth supply he confronted — a flighted one, from finger-spinner Krunal Pandya — Mhatre stepped out and casually lofted it down the bottom. That was simply the teaser for the blockbuster present that adopted. He completed with a 48-ball 94, a powerful statistic in a sport during which CSK had been beneath the cosh proper from the beginning.

Mhatre made his home debut for Mumbai final season and was roped in as an harm alternative for CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. He joined the 5-time champions greater than three weeks after the event started and had notable scores of 32 (15b) and 30 (19b) in opposition to Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Against RCB’s bowling line-up, he was in a zone, significantly destroying Bhuvaneshwar Kumar’s numbers by plundering 26 runs in boundaries within the fourth over.

Mhatre got here in for top reward from head coach Stephen Fleming, who, whereas outlining the talents of the Mumbaikar, mentioned, “He’s got talent. He’s got hand-eye coordination. He’s got a beautiful, silky swing. He’s aggressive. Everything that we like about a modern-day T20 player.”
But diminutive Mhatre’s largest energy, mentioned the New Zealander, was: “To me, it’s the temperament and being able to execute in a trial and then on the big stage. That’s what I’m most impressed with.”

On {the teenager}’s execution on subject, Fleming mentioned: “It’s one thing to have a lot of shots, but to be able to execute that game plan on a big stage in front of some of the biggest players in the world is what I admire. While his innings did not result in a CSK win, it ensured the franchise has a player for the future.”

Fleming revealed Mhatre’s transition from the Mumbai dressing room to the CSK dugout has been seamless. “We have a pretty relaxed camp, which has always been our style,” the previous Black Caps captain mentioned. “He has some teammates (from Mumbai) like (Shivam) Dube, who he has seen a fair bit of. Again, it comes back to his maturity. He fitted in seamlessly. It’s often not what the team around him does, but it’s just the way that he behaves. He was very comfortable right from day one and the team was very comfortable with him. Hopefully, it’s the start of a long relationship.”