Injured Gaikwad Out, MS Dhoni To Lead? CSK's Probable XI For IPL 2025 Match Vs DC

Anurag Dasgupta

MSD to lead CSK? [Source: @iplt20.com]MSD to lead CSK? [Source: @iplt20.com]

After suffering back-to-back defeats in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, the Chennai Super Kings will take on the Delhi Capitals in a crucial game at their homeground, MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday. The side has looked lost in the shuffle and need to win the game to get their campaign back on track.

Their team combination has been questionable and the Super Kings are yet to bring in their best player, Devon Conway in the playing XI. Will they bring him back in the side? Here's CSK's probable XI for the clash Vs DC.

Changes CSK can make in their playing XI

Injured Gaikwad out?

Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad got injured in the last match Vs RR and as per Mike Hussey, CSK batting coach, there is doubt on Gaikwad's chances of playing in the next match. If he missed out, there are rumours that MS Dhoni could lead the side once again, and the team could stick with Vijay Shankar. Dhoni won five IPL titles with the franchise and will ,ost likely be the first choice to lead against DC.

Conway back in the XI?

Devon Conway was instrumental in CSK's title winning campaign during the 2023 season, but for some bizarre reason, he hasn't played a single game in the IPL 2025. The Super Kings prefer Rachin Ravindra at the top, but with no Conway, CSK don't have a power-hitter in their lineup.

Criterion
Data
Matches16
Runs672
50s/100s
6/0
Strike-rate139.71

(Conway stats in IPL 2023)

As the stats suggests, Conway as brilliant in the 2023 season, scoring nearly 700 runs, with 6 half-centuries. However, this season, he has not been featured and as a result, there are not enough runs scored at a brisk pace in the power-play.

While the likes of Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad are brilliant timers of the ball, they do not have the hitting abilities of Conway. The Kiwi opener can open alongside Rachin Ravindra if Gaikwad misses out, however, if the CSK captain plays, he should open with him.

Who will Conway replace?

Ravindra, Noor Ahmad and Matheesha Pathirana are fixed and will play the next game for sure. That leaves Jamie Overton at risk of being left out. He played in the last match over Sam Curran and flopped as he was taken to the cleaners.

CSK have enough batting and bowling options in the middle and Overton doesn't add anything significant. Hence, he should be the one who makes way for Conway.

The team is not expected to make any other changes as the Super Kings is expected to go in with the same XI which suffered a loss Vs RR.

CSK probable XI Vs DC

Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Rachin Ravindra, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c), R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana

Impact sub: Anshul Kamboj