IANS Exclusive: Lakshmipathy Balaji, former India fast-bowler and JioStar IPL expert, told IANS that Rahul Tripathi is his top pick to replace Ajinkya Rahane in CSK’s batting line-up, citing his strong Chepauk record and ability to maintain strike rate at No. 3 or 4 during powerplay. He ranks Vijay Shankar second and Deepak Hooda third, noting Hooda’s useful off-spin and impactful knocks. Reflecting on IPL’s 18-year evolution, Balaji hailed it as a global brand akin to EPL or F1, crediting it for elevating cricket’s standards and economics—evidenced by India’s two trophies in nine months, a dream shift from bilateral series to a worldwide stage.
#IPL2025 #CSKBatting #RahulTripathi #AjinkyaRahane #VijayShankar
#IPL2025 #CSKBatting #RahulTripathi #AjinkyaRahane #VijayShankar
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00:00I will start with the batters. Yes, all three have tremendous potential. Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Uda.
00:08Knowing the condition, Rahul Tripathi's record has been great in Chepauk.
00:16Probably top-order at no. 3 or 4, where Rahul Tripathi has performed really well in Chepauk condition.
00:23Probably a kind of player where Chennai always felt they should have him in the auctions.
00:31But yes, he was always in the talks when it comes to auction tables and discussions and strategies and everything.
00:39But I feel all three have the potential. I go Rahul Tripathi to start with so that the strike rate is maintained.
00:47Because if you are batting at no. 4 or 3, you are more or less playing the powerplay overs sometimes.
00:55Most of the times, it is the back-end of the powerplay overs and then you have to help the team to form the kind of run rate which you need to be setting up.
01:07So, first is Rahul Tripathi, then Vijay Shankar, then Deepak Uda. Deepak Uda can become handy because he can give you couple of off-spin overs.
01:15Especially when opposition loaded with left-handers, probably Deepak Uda will come in.
01:21And he also played couple of knocks for LSG, especially against CSK last two seasons.
01:26And he has played crucial knocks for LSG. So, that all will come in handy.
01:32So, he is a good striker of the ball. So, this is the order I will follow.
01:35First, Rahul Tripathi. Second, Vijay Shankar. Third is Deepak Uda.
01:40So, asking about me. Yes, this 18 years has been a lot of experience.
01:46IPL has definitely taken the game into different level worldwide.
01:53The world is looking at us to know how this tournament is producing players and helping the economics as well as the potential standard of international cricket has been reached to a height.
02:05And within six months, we ended up winning two trophies.
02:10Which is like something I feel like lot of credit need to be given to the IPL and the owners and the kind of leadership group over the period of time where they all have contributed to be the place where IPL is right now.
02:25And it is a tournament which has helped international cricket and now it is a global brand.
02:32It is not only an Indian brand. It is a global brand where lot of people from across the globe are witnessing the performances.
02:39And it is something I always felt like English Premier League or F1, Formula 1 and all these.
02:48In parallel with that, one day cricket also will be spoken. That is a dream as a youngster when we used to play.
02:57It is only bilateral series and big tournaments like World Cup.
03:00But now IPL has taken that standard globally and competes with the bigger sports worldwide.
03:09Within the limitation like 20 odd countries, we are able to find a global brand.
03:14So it is amazing that how IPL has grown over the period of time.
03:18It is a journey I also enjoyed as a player and I also enjoyed as a coach and commentator later.
03:27www.ipl.ac.in