In this article, we take a look at the five domestic players who can make a difference for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) this coming season.
Playing for the first time under a different captain, the Chennai Super Kings narrowly missed out on the playoffs to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on net run rate last season.
Now, in their second season under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad and with a more balanced and stronger squad, can the Super Kings roar back and claim their sixth IPL title?
Mukesh Chaudhary
The 28-year-old left-arm fast bowler from Bhilwara, Rajasthan, had a wonderful breakthrough season with the Super Kings in 2022, picking up 16 wickets from just 12 games. However, a rib fracture and a back injury meant he had to sit on the sidelines for more than 15 months, and although he made his comeback in the IPL last year, he found it difficult to break into the CSK playing XI.
Now, seemingly back to his previous best, Chaudhary has been producing consistent performances across multiple tournaments. During last year’s Maharashtra Premier League, he bagged 21 wickets for Eagle Nashik Titans and finished as the second-highest wicket taker in the tournament. He carried this form into the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), finishing as the third-highest wicket taker despite playing fewer games than the bowlers in front of him.
With the CSK likely to go with either him or Khaleel Ahmed as their starting left-arm seamer, Chaudhary’s timely return to form will most likely give him the edge, especially due to his ability to pick crucial wickets with the new ball.
Anshul Kamboj
The 24-year-old seamer from Haryana has been on an upward trajectory since making his debut for Haryana in the domestic circuit in 2022. The right-arm pacer was instrumental to Haryana winning their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) last season as he bagged 17 wickets in ten innings, including two crucial wickets in the final. This led to the Mumbai Indians securing his services during the 2024 mini auction, and although he played just three games for them all season, it was evident what he could produce on one of the biggest stages in world cricket.
This season, too, Kamboj had a good SMAT campaign as he picked up nine wickets going at a meagre 6.73 runs per over. In the VHT, where Harayana again made it into the semi-finals, Kamboj ended the tournament among the top five highest wicket takers.
Although it is very likely the CSK will turn up with slow and turning wickets at Chepauk, while on the road they will need someone with Kamboj’s skillset either as a starter or an Impact Sub for the second innings.
Deepak Hooda
Nicknamed the “Hurricane” for his explosive batting and ability to change a game on its head, Deepak Hooda is a player who can be vital to the Super Kings cause this season, given they can get him firing on all cylinders. Following his exceptional debut season with the Lucknow Super Giants, the 29-year-old middle-order batter has had a torrid time in the last two seasons, scoring just 229 runs in 21 innings.
Given the Super Kings have stacked their bowling contingent with quality spin bowlers of all kind, it is likely they’ll turn up with slow and turning wickets at Chepauk to bamboozle the opposition. Thus, to have a right-handed spin-basher like Hooda alongside Shivam Dube will be ideal for them.
Kamlesh Nagarkoti
The last few years have shown that fast bowling has been the CSK’s Achilles Heel, both during Powerplay and death overs. Thus, it is understandable why they have invested heavily in seamers, especially Indian seamers.
Having dazzled with his raw pace and impressive seam movement during the 2018 U19 World Cup, Kamalesh Nagarkoti has seen his career go on and off largely due to recurring injuries.
Now fit again, the 25-year-old from Rajasthan has been in fine form in the domestic circuit. He picked up ten wickets in the recently-concluded SMAT, going at a reasonable 6.7 economy rate, while in his three matches in the ongoing VHT he bagged seven wickets and looked lethal.
If the CSK management manage to keep him fit, there’s every chance Nagarkoti will emerge as one of the surprise packages this season.
Shreyas Gopal
The Super Kings have a left-arm finger spinner in Ravindra Jadeja, a right-hand finger spinner in Ravichandran Ashwin, a mysterious spinner in Noor Ahmad, and a leg spinner in Shreyas Gopal. This is by far the best-spin bowling contingent in the IPL going into the coming season.
That said, since picking up 20 wickets in the 2020 season with the Rajasthan Royals, Gopal has failed to reach those heights again.
In the lead-up to the 2025 edition, the 31-year-old has been in excellent form for his state side, sitting near the top of the highest wicket-takers charts in both the SMAT and VHT. Despite Karnataka’s early exit from the SMAT, Gopal picked up 14 wickets in just seven innings at an economy of 6.15, while in the VHT he is currently the second-highest wicket-taker behind Arshdeep Singh with 18 wickets.
Given the slow and turning nature of the Chepauk pitches in the past, Gopal will have a huge role to play in the upcoming season.
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