Five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had a successful outing at the mega auction, which concluded on Monday, November 25, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Prior to the auction, CSK had retained five key players: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja Shivam Dube, and Matheesha Pathirana.
The Chennai-based franchise secured 20 players during the auction, including Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rasheed, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, and Andre Siddarth.
With this well-rounded squad, CSK is poised to challenge for their sixth title in the 2025 season, which begins on March 14. However, there were a few players that CSK had their eye on but failed to acquire. Here, we take a look at three players CSK made a strong bid for during the IPL 2025 Auction, who would have been great additions to their team.
#1 Liam Livingstone
The English all-rounder was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the mega auction and was picked up by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for INR 8.75 crore, with Chennai Super Kings placing the second-highest bid of INR 8.50 crore.
At 31, Livingstone would have been a great addition to CSK. Known for his aggressive batting and ability to hit sixes effortlessly, he would have strengthened CSK's middle order, providing much-needed firepower in the death overs. While Chennai’s batting is generally strong, they’ve occasionally lacked a player who can consistently accelerate the scoring in the final stages of the innings.
Livingstone’s presence would have also relieved some of the pressure on Shivam Dube to score quickly in the middle overs, allowing the team to control the pace of the game. His natural power-hitting would have given CSK the flexibility to accelerate when needed.
With a solid IPL record of 939 runs from 39 matches at a strike rate of 162.45, including six fifties, Livingstone has proven himself in T20 cricket and would have been a valuable asset to CSK in their pursuit of a sixth title.
#2 Tushar Deshpande
Tushar Deshpande was bought by CSK in 2022 but only played two matches that season. However, over the next two years, he emerged as one of the team's leading bowlers, taking 38 wickets in 29 games.
Despite his impressive performances, the pacer was released ahead of the mega auction. CSK did make an attempt to bring him back, but it wasn't meant to be, as Rajasthan Royals secured the 29-year-old for INR 6.50 crore.
Deshpande would have been a valuable asset for CSK had they managed to re-sign him. With his solid performances in back-to-back seasons and his familiarity with the CSK setup, he could have played a key role in helping the team take wickets with the new ball.
Having already gained significant experience in high-pressure situations, Deshpande was well-accustomed to the intense competition of the IPL. He would have perfectly complemented CSK's current pace attack, including Matheesha Pathirana and new acquisitions like Khaleel Ahmed.
#3 Robin Minz
While CSK have brought in young wicketkeeper-batter Vansh Bedi, they would have been thrilled to add a player like Jharkhand's Robin Minz to their squad. Minz was initially picked by Gujarat Titans in the 2024 auction but had to miss the season due to an accident before the tournament. This time, the 22-year-old was bought by Mumbai Indians for INR 65 lakh.
Known as the "Chris Gayle of Jharkhand," Minz has played three T20 matches and two first-class games. In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024, he impressed with an explosive unbeaten 36 off just 12 balls, smashing five boundaries and two sixes against Manipur.
His attacking batting style and ability to clear the boundaries could have added much-needed firepower to CSK’s middle order, complementing established players like Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja.
Moreover, while MS Dhoni remains one of the best wicketkeepers in the world, having a young, energetic backup like Minz would have been a wise long-term investment for CSK. Given the physical demands Dhoni has faced over the years, Minz could have seamlessly stepped in when needed, providing CSK with flexibility in squad rotation, particularly during times when Dhoni might need rest.
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