Chennai Super Kings have moved quickly to address a fresh round of injury concerns, bringing in a former Mumbai Indians pace option to cover for Ayush Mhatre. The young top-order batter is set to miss the remainder of the season after a hamstring problem, and that has prompted CSK to reshape their plans ahead of the tougher stretch of matches.
CSK have signed right-arm fast bowler Akash Madhwal as Mhatre’s replacement. Madhwal’s journey in franchise cricket began in Bengaluru, where he started out as a net bowler for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2019. Three years later, he secured his first IPL contract when Mumbai Indians picked him up as a replacement for an injured Suryakumar Yadav with only two games remaining in the 2022 campaign. While he did not get a match in that year, his work in the nets left a strong impression, setting the stage for a breakthrough the next season.
In IPL 2023, Madhwal made his Mumbai Indians debut and immediately made an impact, taking 14 wickets across eight appearances. His tally included a standout five-wicket effort, most memorably posting figures of 5/5 in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants. The following year, however, was a quieter run for him in terms of wickets—he played five matches for MI in 2024 and picked up five scalps.
Heading into IPL 2025, Madhwal drew attention at the mini-auction, with Rajasthan Royals emerging victorious over Punjab Kings to secure his services for INR 1.20 crore. Yet his stint with RR lasted only briefly; he turned out in four matches before being released later on.
With no bidders at the auction last December, Madhwal eventually found his way back into the IPL system through Chennai, agreeing to a fee of INR 30 lakh. Reports also suggested he attended CSK’s trials in Hyderabad earlier in the week, underlining how quickly CSK had moved once the need for cover became clear.
For CSK, Madhwal’s arrival provides welcome depth to a pace unit that has been battered by injuries in the current season. The team had already lost left-arm fast bowler Khaleel Ahmed, and Spencer Johnson—recruited as a stand-in for Nathan Ellis—also suffered an injury. Johnson has since rejoined the squad, but the overall disruption has still left CSK looking for reliable fast-bowling options.
Mhatre, meanwhile, had given CSK a promising start before the setback. India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning captain had scored two fifties in six matches, but his season took a turn in Match 27 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, when he sustained a left hamstring injury while batting.
