With the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) likely out of the IPL 2025 playoffs, the team is already setting sights on their future squad, focusing on nurturing young talents like 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis, who recently celebrated his 22nd birthday right before the CSK match against Punjab Kings. Bringing fresh players in reflects CSK’s strategy to improve their transition into the next season and observe them at the highest level.
Batting coach, Michael Hussey, highlighted the need for enhancing their talent identification process. “I think it’s one area that we’ve really identified that we want to improve on is that talent identification side of things,” Hussey stated during a press conference. “Players have joined us at different stages, sometimes on trial, and when their names come up for auction, we’ve at least seen them. Watching them live gives more insights than video packets.”
An interesting development for Wednesday’s IPL game is the debut of four uncapped Indian batters as openers for the first time in league history. With previous attempts like Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Rahul Tripathi not yielding desired results as openers, CSK is trying Mhatre and Andhra’s Shaik Rasheed in these roles. Mhatre impressed the management during a mid-season trial at Chepauk.
CSK integrated these youngsters and Brevis following match-simulation training at their high-performance centre near Chennai. This facility has also hosted international players from New Zealand and the West Indies for subcontinent preparation. Michael Hussey acknowledges the importance of such training, noting Rasheed’s talent, “[Shaik Rasheed]… he’s a beautiful player.”
“If we can play some practice games, [seeing] them under pressure allows for informed decisions on talent,” Hussey elaborated. “These are crucial decisions. With abundant talent in India, choosing the right ones is key. Mistakes will happen, but better-informed decisions benefit the franchise.”
Hussey is optimistic about the long-term value of their efforts at the academy, especially given the current challenges. “Even with our playoff hopes fading, the coaching group seeks continuous improvement. The high-performance centre offers fantastic resources. Replicating match situations in practice better prepares players. While nets are useful, match situations provide vital exposure.”
This strategic shift underscores CSK’s commitment to cultivating a strong pipeline of talent, ensuring the franchise’s competitive edge remains sharp in future seasons.
