May 4, 2025: At just 17 years and 292 days old, Ayush Mhatre is emerging as one of the brightest young talents in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. A late entrant to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad, Mhatre has impressed fans, coaches, and cricket pundits alike with his composure, strokeplay, and ability to thrive on the big stage.
Speaking after CSK’s close loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, head coach Stephen Fleming praised the teenager’s temperament, describing it as his most valuable asset.
“He’s got talent. He’s got hand-eye coordination. He’s got a beautiful, silky swing. He’s aggressive. Everything that we like about a modern-day T20 player,” said Fleming.
“But to me, it’s the temperament and being able to execute in a trial and then on the big stage. That’s what I’m most impressed with.”
Mhatre, who replaced injured CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad after just five matches into the season, made his debut against Mumbai Indians, scoring 32 off 15 balls. He followed it up with a solid 30 off 19 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. But it was his stunning 94 off 48 deliveries against RCB that truly grabbed the spotlight — making him the third-youngest player to hit a fifty in IPL history.
“It’s sometimes hard to explain, but there’s just a quality around what he was doing,” Fleming added.
The former New Zealand captain also highlighted how smoothly Mhatre has integrated into the CSK camp, attributing it to both the team’s culture and the young player’s natural ease and maturity.
“We have a pretty relaxed camp, which has always been our style… He was very comfortable right from day one and the team was very comfortable with him,” he said.
Mhatre’s seamless entry into one of the league’s most experienced sides speaks volumes about his character. With players like Shivam Dube (also from Mumbai) providing familiarity and support, Mhatre has managed to focus on his game with remarkable calm.
His performances come at a time when IPL 2025 is witnessing an exciting influx of youth talent. Earlier this week, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi stunned audiences by becoming the youngest player to score a T20 century.
“It’s extraordinary to watch that fearless approach,” Fleming said of the teenage duo.
“To have the skills that these young players have and to be able to execute them against some of the best bowlers in the world is quite remarkable.”
Fleming jokingly expressed concern for bowlers at the upcoming Under-19 World Cup, calling Mhatre and Suryavanshi “two pretty handy openers” that could pose a serious threat.
Despite CSK’s underwhelming season so far, the emergence of Ayush Mhatre has given the franchise and its fans a reason to look ahead with hope. If his early performances are anything to go by, Indian cricket might have just found its next batting prodigy.