'It's still very hard when you're in a nets': CSK head coach Stephen Fleming reacts to Ayush Mhatre's maiden appearance in IPL 2025 against MI

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming lavished praise on the young right-hand batter Ayush Mhatre's maiden appearance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against the Mumbai Indians (MI).

However, the clash went in favour of MI as Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav smashed impressive half-centuries that helped the Hardik Pandya-led side to register a nine-wicket win against CSK at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai

At the IPL 2025 mega auction, Ayush Mhatre remained unsold, but he was called up a replacement of Ruturaj Gaikwad before the clash against the Hardik Pandya-led side.

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Mhatre was off to a dreamy start in IPL as he played a quickfire knock of 32 runs from just 15 balls, including four boundaries and two maximums in his innings at a staggering strike rate of 213.33.

"We've had a few players through at our training sessions and he was a player that stood out. It's still very hard when you're in a nets situation to get a true gauge of a player, but from a skillset [point of view], he was very impressive and a very composed young man, which is often just as important. So both MS and I were very impressed with the way he held himself together for the trial. And then when the opportunity came up, we've obviously got a view to the future, and he was the name that was pretty easy to pick" said Flemming in post match conference.

"It's probably the position we are in [CSK are bottom of the table] and with the injury to Rutu and the form of others made it quite an easy decision to get him in there he stage seems big but it's one that's familiar. We banked on him being comfortable with his surroundings [at Wankhede] and he certainly looked all that, so it was an impressive debut," Fleming added.

The 17-year-old Mhatre became the youngest to represent the rich history of the CSK in IPL. He leapfrogged Abhinav Mukund, who made his debut for CSK at the age of 18 years and 139 days against Rajasthan Royals in 2008.

However, CSK had a forgettable season in the IPL 2025, the franchise are currently on tenth in the points table with two wins in eight outings of the tournament. CSK will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad in their upcoming clash of the tournament.