| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Ayush Mhatre |
| Age | 17 (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Virar, Maharashtra, India |
| IPL Team | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) |
| Ranji Team | Mumbai |
| Batsman | Right-handed Opening Batsman |
| Bowling | Right-arm Off-break |
| Debut | IPL Debut in 2025 vs Mumbai Indians |
There’s a new name making waves in Indian cricket – Ayush Mhatre. This young batting sensation from Mumbai has caught the attention of the cricketing world with his fearless batting, inspiring journey, and record-breaking performances. At just 17 years old, he’s already represented Mumbai, played in the Ranji Trophy, smashed records in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and now made his IPL debut for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). His journey is not just about numbers, but about passion, discipline, and dreams coming true. Let’s dive into the life and career of Ayush Mhatre — from the maidans of Mumbai to the grandeur of IPL.
Early Life and Inspiration
Born on July 16, 2007, in Virar, Maharashtra, Ayush Mhatre started playing cricket at the age of just 5. Even as a child, his love for cricket was unmatched. He would travel nearly 80 km every day from Virar to Mumbai for practice. This kind of dedication is rare at such a young age.
His biggest support? His grandfather, Laxmikant Naik. He ensured Ayush never missed his cricket practice or school. That strong support system played a major role in shaping his discipline and drive.
To get the right coaching, Ayush was enrolled in Don Bosco High School, Matunga – a school known for its cricketing excellence. He also trained at the Dilip Vengsarkar Academy, which is famous for producing quality cricketers. All of this helped build a strong foundation for Ayush.
Playing Style: A Bold and Stylish Opener
Ayush is a right-handed opening batsman, known for his attacking mindset and clean technique. What makes him stand out is his ability to play aggressive shots early in the innings while maintaining balance and patience.
He’s also a handy right-arm off-break bowler. In fact, he picked up 7 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, proving that he’s not just a one-dimensional player.
Many fans and coaches have compared his style to his idol – Rohit Sharma. Ayush has openly admitted that watching Rohit bat on TV inspired him to take up cricket. His favorite shot? The pull shot — just like Rohit!
Domestic Cricket Journey
Ayush’s domestic cricket journey started in 2023. But it was the 2024-25 season where he really made headlines.
First-Class (Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup)
Debut: 2024-25 Irani Cup for Mumbai
Ranji Trophy: Scored his maiden century (176 off 232) against Maharashtra, captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad — the very player he later replaced in CSK.
He has scored 504 runs in 9 first-class matches, with 2 centuries and 1 half-century.
His second century was 107 against Services*.
Even when dropped from a match to make space for his idol Rohit Sharma, Ayush handled it maturely. He shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, calling it a dream come true to be in the same team.
Record-Breaking List A Performance
Ayush created history in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy. In a match against Nagaland, he scored an unbelievable 181 off 117 balls, becoming the youngest male cricketer to score 150+ runs in a List A match. He smashed 15 fours and 11 sixes in that knock. This broke the record set by Yashasvi Jaiswal, another Mumbai prodigy.
He followed it up with another century – 148 against Saurashtra.
List A Stats:
Matches: 7
Runs: 458
Average: 65.42
Strike Rate: 135.50
Wickets: 7 (Best: 3/17)
Economy: 4.51
Under-23 and Under-19 India Journey
Ayush was just 16 years old when he played for the Mumbai Under-23 team in December 2023. Less than a year later, he was in the senior squad — a rapid rise that speaks volumes of his talent.
In November 2024, he was selected for the India U-19 team for the Asia Cup.
Runs: 176 in 5 matches
Average: 44
Fifties: 2
Also took 5 wickets, including a match-winning performance in the semi-final against Sri Lanka (34 runs + 2 wickets).
He is now in the race to be a part of India’s U-19 World Cup squad in 2025.
IPL Debut with Chennai Super Kings
In April 2025, Ayush was signed by Chennai Super Kings as a replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was ruled out due to injury.
Although Ayush went unsold at the auction (Base Price: ₹30 Lakhs), CSK saw his potential and called him for mid-season trials. He impressed the scouts and was picked ahead of other contenders like Salman Nizar, Urvil Patel, and even Prithvi Shaw.
He made his IPL debut on April 20, 2025, against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium, his home ground.
While his debut match didn’t go as planned, being part of the CSK setup with legends like MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and R Ashwin is a huge learning experience. Where he started his IPL career in style he scored fast 32 runs in just 15 balls with the strike rate of 213.33 with 2 sixes and 4 fours.
Career Stats
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs Scored | Highest Score | Batting Average | Strike Rate | Centuries | Half-Centuries | Wickets Taken | Bowling Average | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | 9 | 16 | 504 | 176 | 31.50 | 72.93 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - |
| List A | 7 | 7 | 458 | 181 | 65.42 | 135.50 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 11.28 | 3/17 |
| T20 (Local) | 3 | 3 | 66 | 50 | 22.00 | 183.33 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 31.00 | 1/25 |
U-19 Asia Cup 2024
| Matches Played | Innings Batted | Runs Scored | Highest Score | Batting Average | Strike Rate | Fifties | Wickets Taken | Bowling Average | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 176 | 67* | 44.00 | 110.00 | 2 | 5 | 15.20 | 2/30 |
IPL 2025
| Team | Replacement For | Base Price (INR) | Debut Match | Role in Team (Expected) | Matches Played | Runs Scored | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Ruturaj Gaikwad | 30 Lakhs | vs. Mumbai Indians | Opening Batsman | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
Awards and Recognition
MCA Best Junior Cricketer (U-16) – 2022-23
Youngest to score 150+ in List A Men’s Cricket
India U-19 Asia Cup 2024 – Top Performer