Ayush Mhatre, at just 17 years and 292 days, is already showing signs of becoming a top-notch T20 cricketer. With a pleasing style, shots all around the ground, and the necessary power game for T20 cricket, Mhatre caught the eye of Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming. What impressed Fleming most about Mhatre, however, was his temperament and composure displayed in trials and during IPL 2025 matches.
“He’s got talent; he’s got hand-eye coordination, and a beautiful, silky swing. He’s aggressive—all the things we like in a modern-day T20 player,” Fleming stated post-match, despite CSK’s loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday night. “But, 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.”
Although CSK’s season has had its challenges, Mhatre has been a highlight. Stepping in as a replacement for captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who suffered an elbow injury, Mhatre made his T20 debut against Mumbai Indians (MI), scoring a quick 32 off 15 balls. He followed this with another brisk knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). His standout performance came against RCB, where he scored 94 runs off 48 balls, becoming the third-youngest to hit a fifty in the IPL. This innings, while not leading CSK to a win, highlighted his potential.
“It’s sometimes hard to explain, but there’s just a quality around what he was doing,” Fleming said on choosing Mhatre to replace Gaikwad. “It’s early days, but we have been very impressed with his skills right from when he trialled and was with us at the early part of the season.”
Fleming continued, “We have enjoyed a lot of the shot play from young players in this tournament and we’re delighted that we’ve got one ourselves. So, yes, excited about the future for him.”
Despite having only joined CSK recently, Mhatre has blended well into the team dynamic. “We have a pretty relaxed camp, which has always been our style. He has some team-mates from Mumbai on the side. [Shivam] Dube has seen a fair bit of him,” Fleming observed. “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.”
Mhatre’s recent performance included a spectacular over against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, from which he took 26 runs. In the IPL 2025, young talents like Mhatre are beginning to make their mark against seasoned international bowlers, adding intrigue to the tournament.
