Ruturaj Gaikwad has been selected by former India star Aakash Chopra as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player having the best chance to succeed in the 2025 Indian Premier League. He pointed out that in what might be MS Dhoni’s final season as a player, Gaikwad has an opportunity to guide the team to a record sixth championship.
Last season, CSK named Gaikwad their captain. He will continue to lead the team this season after being retained for ₹18 crore before to the IPL 2025 auction, along with Dhoni (₹4 crore), Shivam Dube (₹12 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (₹13 crore), and Ravindra Jadeja (₹18 crore).
The former India opener stated in a video posted to his “Aakash Chopra” YouTube channel that Gaikwad has a chance to assist Dhoni finish his playing career on a high note in the IPL 2025.
“Ruturaj Gaikwad has got the opportunity to lead an incredible franchise. Although he gets acceptance, everyone gave him love when Dhoni gave the captaincy to him with his own hands, he has to carry the legacy forward. So that pressure will definitely be there. They are okay with it even though the first season might not have been good and you didn’t qualify.”
Aakash Chopra
“However, if a franchise like Chennai remains non-performing continuously, doesn’t reach the finals or lifts the trophy, then there will be pressure. We don’t know how many more years Dhoni would play. This might be the last year. If this is the last year, you want to bid him goodbye with a trophy. So it could be a massive opportunity for Ruturaj Gaikwad.”
Aakash Chopra
The IPL 2024 playoffs were not reached by the Chennai Super Kings. Despite the fact that CSK, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Delhi Capitals (DC), and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) each finished the previous season with 14 points, RCB outscored the other three teams on net run rate to secure the final knockout spot.
Aakash Chopra Spotlights CSK’s Hidden Gems for IPL 2025
Aakash Chopra stated in the same video that the 2025 Indian Premier League would provide Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, and Vijay Shankar, among other new additions to the Chennai Super Kings, with the chance to demonstrate their abilities.
“Then the lesser-known Indian names – Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda and Vijay Shankar. When it seems like players are not getting chances anywhere or are not doing well, things have worked out after coming to this franchise many times.”
Aakash Chopra
The analyst emphasized that the Chennai-based team knows how to get the most out of its players and provides them with appropriate opportunities.
“I feel whoever goes to that franchise, it’s a huge opportunity because they will be given chances properly. They will prepared properly and given confidence. They create players. Whatever the best is possible, they try and extract that from people and take them along with love.”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra used the example of Shivam Dube, who made an impression for CSK following poor seasons with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and RCB. He noted that the all-rounder revealed that he was able to give his best effort because of MS Dhoni and the management’s faith in him.
