Teenagers continue to captivate the imagination in IPL 2025, as 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre blazed a brilliant 94 for Chennai Super Kings in a steep chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday (May 3).
After being ignored in the mega-auction, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury midway through the season earned him a call-up. At 17 years 278 days, he became the youngest CSK player to play in the IPL, just two days after Vaibhav Suryavashi broke the overall record across all teams.
While CSK are already out of contention for the playoffs, Mhatre showed promise of things to come with a brilliant batting display.
Following Romario Shepherd’s record 14-ball 53 not out which took RCB to 213-5, Mhatre led CSK’s response. He went berserk from the word go, hitting six boundaries off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the fourth over. A six of the fourth ball meant 26 came for CSK from that over. He brought up his maiden fifty off 25 balls. At 17 years and 290 days, Mhatre is now the third youngest to register an IPL half-century after Riyan Parag (17 years and 175 days vs Delhi Capitals, 2019) and Suryavanshi (14 years and 32 days vs Gujarat Titans, 2025).
Match 52, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Mhatre continued to press the accelerator, falling just six short of a hundred. His 48-ball 94 contained nine fours and five sixes. Had he reached the three-figure mark, Mhatre would have become the second-youngest T20 centurion ever after 14-year-old Suryavanshi broke the record earlier.
Mhatre’s epic knock ultimately proved in vain as CSK fell agonizingly short by just two runs, leaving the teenager and his team devastated. Yet tributes poured in for the 17-year-old sensation after his staggering innings in the high-pressure chase.
Ayush Mhatre looks like the player who loves bounce. Plays on top of the bounce. Brilliant batting from 17 years old.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 3, 2025
Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis are the new faces of @ChennaiIPL 's refreshingly new mindset/approach. pic.twitter.com/fjwmZUsvA7
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) May 3, 2025
RCB under assault from 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre. Young Indian batsmen creating waves!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 3, 2025
Youngest batters to hit 25+ runs in an over in the IPL:
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) May 3, 2025
14y 32d - Vaibhav Suryavanshi v Ishant Sharma, 2025
17y 291d - Ayush Mhatre v Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 2025
18y 349d - Dewald Brevis v Rahul Chahar, 2022
19y 195d - Rishabh Pant v Umesh Yadav, 2017#IPL2025 #RCBvCSK
I have been enthralled by Ayush Mhatre's innings. Such composure and bravery. And on 94, played the kind of shot the team needed. That shows character.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 3, 2025
Highest score in men's franchise leagues before age 18
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) May 3, 2025
101 - Vaibhav in 2025 IPL
94 - Ayush Mhatre in 2025 IPL
54 - Nicholas Pooran in 2013 CPL
50* - Jewel Andrew in 2024 CPL
50 - Riyan Parag in 2019 IPL
Top-2 are BOTH within a week.
And huge gap between 2nd and 3rd… pic.twitter.com/Gdrsa7QI7B
Well played Ayush Mhatre. Years later, when he becomes a big name, these early innings will be discussed.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) May 3, 2025
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