Hardik Pandya To Lead Dhoni And Rohit Sharma; MI And CSK's Combined Playing XI For IPL 2025

Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma [Source: @SPORTYVISHAL, @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]

Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are the two most successful teams in IPL. The two teams share ten IPL trophies between them. The best part of these two teams have been the way they have approached their auctions. Their auction strategy has mostly led them to win 50% of the battles.

It is a known fact that if the players of these two franchises combine then it will be an unstoppable team in league. The two franchises have put in special effort during the IPL 2025 auction. Looking at the two squads for the upcoming season, they look like balanced sides with most of their bases covered.

In this article, we will try and form the best playing 12 when the two squads are combined. Let us take a look at the best best possible playing 12 of the two franchises - 

Openers Of MI And CSK Combined

Rohit Sharma And Ryan Rickelton

Rohit Sharma has been a trusted customer at the top for the Mumbai Indians for long. Though his consistency in IPL has been a question, the impact that he can have at the beginning of an innings can raise no doubts. 

Ryan Rickelton is one of the newer recruits of MI for IPL 2025. However, it is expected that he will be starting the innings for the Mumbai Indians in the upcoming edition. So, he is a part of this team as a second opener and also the wicket-keeper.

Middle Order Of MI And CSK Combined

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma

Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain of the Chennai Super Kings, batted at number three in the last season. So, he can bat at that position in this team providing solidity and stability to the batting line-up.

Suryakumar Yadav is one of the best in the business, when it comes to T20 batting. The right-handed batter has played some brilliant knocks at the top for MI and can be an outright match-winner.

Tilak Varma has impressed with his show in the IPL as well as the international arena. At present he is going through a golden phase as far as T20 batting is concerned. Varma's presence in the middle-order will provide dynamism to the batting line-up. 

---

ALSO READ

IPL 2025: Most Expensive Buys By All 10 Franchises In Mega Auction

---

All-rounders Of MI And CSK Combined

Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja

Shivam Dube can be a very effective player in the middle-order. The left-handed batter can be the spin hitter of the team and also contribute with a couple of overs if the team needs it.

Hardik Pandya with his ability to hit big towards the end of an innings will be a crucial presence in this team. Besides the current MI skipper is also an efficient bowler in the T20s, with his ability to bowl in almost all the phases of a game. With Pandya having a great record as the captain of the Gujarat Titans, he can be the leader of this side.

Ravindra Jadeja with his ability to contribute with batting, bowling and fielding can be a very dynamic part of the team. The southpaw can be a very effective bowler and a game-changing batter in the lower-order.

Bowlers Of MI and CSK Combined

Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah

Trent Boult has been bought by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 auction. The left-arm pacer will be MI's opening bowler and can be expected to do the same for this side. He might also deliver a couple of overs in the death phase.

When there is an option to include Jasprit Bumrah, there is no chance you can ignore him. With his wicket-taking abilities, he will be one of the first names to be put down on the team sheet. Bumrah will be the experienced all purpose bowler of this team who can deliver at any stage.

Impact Players Of MI and CSK Combined

Matheesha Pathirana And MS Dhoni

Matheesha Pathirana will be the impact player for the team when the team bowls first. The young Sri Lankan pacer will be the death over specialist in this team.

With Ryan Rickelton available as a keeping option, MS Dhoni will not be need to keep the wickets. He can play as an impact player for the team coming to bat towards the end of an innings.

This team has been made keeping in mind the team compositions of IPL 2025 and hence neither Rohit Sharma or MS Dhoni has been considered as captain of the team.

Strongest Playing 12 Of MI And CSK Combined For IPL 2025

Rohit Sharma (MI)
Ryan Rickelton (MI) ✈️ WK
Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK)
Suryakumar Yadav (MI)
Tilak Varma (MI)
Shivam Dube (CSK)
Hardik Pandya (MI) (C) 
Ravindra Jadeja (CSK)
Trent Boult (CSK) ✈️
Jasprit Bumrah (MI) ✈️
Matheesha Pathirana (CSK) ✈️/MS Dhoni (CSK)

---

ALSO READ

Revealed: Why MS Dhoni's CSK Retained Shivam Dube At 12 Crore For IPL 2025?

---