Dhoni, Jadeja, and Ashwin Reunite Ahead of IND T20 League 2025

The five-time IND T20 League Chennai with Rs 55 crore in their pocket, The Whistle Podu, Chennai entered the IND T20 League 2025 mega auction in Jeddah and made their intentions clear from the outset. The yellow submarine wasted no time in strengthening its squad, securing both familiar faces and exciting new talent while staying true to its philosophy of a balanced team built around spin, experience, and young potential for the upcoming season of the IND T20 League.

Key Purchases of Chennai in the Auction 2025

Chennai started their auction spree by bringing back the black caps opener Devon Conway, the explosive left-handed batter who had been a key figure in their lineup in previous seasons. Bought for a hefty sum of Rs 6.25 crore, Conway’s return adds solidity to the top order along with their skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Next up, the 2023 IND T20 League winners turned their attention to strengthening their middle order, acquiring right-handed batter Rahul Tripathi for Rs 3.25 crore. The dynamic batter, who was with Hyderabad(HYD) in the last season, will provide flexibility with his ability to play both anchor and attacking roles.

One of the most anticipated moments of the auction was the return of the 38-year-old Chennai’s very own Ravichandran Ashwin to his home team after a gap of 9 years. Ashwin was bought by Chennai for Rs 9.75 crore, Ashwin’s return is more than just a purchase—it's an emotional homecoming for a right-arm spinner who was part of Chennai’s title-winning squads in 2010 and 2011. Ashwin, one of the best spinners in the world, will be invaluable on the spin-friendly pitches of Chepauk, and his leadership and experience could prove crucial for Chennai in the IND T20 League 2025.

In addition to Ashwin, Chennai bolstered their spin department further by signing Noor Ahmed, the highly-rated Afghanistan left-arm wrist spinner, for Rs 10 crore. With his deceptive variations, Noor has the potential to become a key figure in Chennai’s bowling attack, especially in the middle overs.

To add some firepower to their pace attack, Chennai also bought Khaleel Ahmed, the left-arm fast bowler, for Rs 4.80 crore. Khaleel’s pace and ability to swing the ball make him a valuable asset for men in Yellow, who are looking to diversify their bowling attack.

Chennai rounded out their purchases with Rachin Ravindra, the left-handed all-rounder who had great success recently in the test series against India, the NZ’s batter was secured using their Right to Match (RTM) card for Rs 4 crore by Chennai. The 25-year-old Rachin Ravindra, who can contribute with both bat and ball, adds depth and flexibility to the squad. Additionally, the team signed Vijay Shankar for Rs 1.2 crore, an all-rounder who can provide balance to the side.

Also Read: Rishabh Pant Shatters Records with INR 27 Crores Signing in Indian-T20 League Auction

Retained Players

Before the auction, Chennai had already made key decisions to retain their core players, spending a total of Rs 65 crore to keep them in the fold:

• Ruturaj Gaikwad (Rs 18 crore) skipper of the side remains a key fixture at the top of the order, bringing consistency and flair
• MS Dhoni (Rs 4 crore), the 5-time IND T20 League winner skipper continues to lead the franchise and remains the backbone of the team, bringing unmatched leadership and finishing skills in the death overs.
• Ravindra Jadeja (Rs 18 crore), the left-hand all-rounder and the match winner guided Chennai to lift their 5th league title in 2023. He is one of the premier all-rounders in world cricket and is crucial to both Chennai’s bowling attack and their batting depth.
• Shivam Dube (Rs 12 crore), the left-handed dynamic middle-order batter and handy bowler is a valuable asset for Chennai's balance.
• Mathisha Pathirana (Rs 13 crore), the young Sri Lankan pacer, adds pace and wicket-taking ability, especially in the death overs.

Chennai’s Auction Strategy

With a total spend of Rs 50.50 crore in the auction, Chennai has built a well-rounded squad that blends youth with experience, a key characteristic of their IND T20 League success. The acquisitions of Ashwin and Noor Ahmed will strengthen their spin department, which is always a major strength at Rank Turner or Slow Pitch at Chepauk. With the spin trio of Ashwin, Jadeja and Noor Ahmed, it’s going to be tough for the batters to ease past them easily. Ashwin’s experience and leadership will complement the younger talents, while the addition of Khaleel Ahmed offers some much-needed pace.

Final Chennai Squad for IND T20 League 2025

Retained Players for the upcoming edition:

• Ravindra Jadeja (Rs 18 crore)
• Shivam Dube (Rs 12 crore)
• MS Dhoni (Rs 4 crore)
• Ruturaj Gaikwad (Rs 18 crore)
• Mathisha Pathirana (Rs 13 crore)

Auction Purchases on Day 1:

• Khaleel Ahmed (Rs 4.80 crore)
• Rahul Tripathi (Rs 3.25 crore)
• Rachin Ravindra (Rs 4 crore, RTM)
• Vijay Shankar (Rs 1.2 crore)
• Devon Conway (Rs 6.25 crore)
• Ravichandran Ashwin (Rs 9.75 crore)
• Noor Ahmed (Rs 10 crore)