According to an official statement from CSK, the young right-hander is expected to be sidelined for six to 12 weeks as he undergoes rehabilitation.
Despite the injury scare, Mhatre impressed with a quickfire knock, scoring 30 off just 13 balls at a remarkable strike rate of 230.77. He was eventually dismissed by Nitish Kumar Reddy as CSK narrowly missed the 195-run target, falling short by 10 runs. During his innings, Mhatre required multiple checks from the physio but continued to bat through discomfort.
With eight group-stage matches remaining, CSK will now need to consider replacement options. The franchise has a few internal choices, including Kartik Sharma, who was signed for a significant amount in the mini-auction but has managed only 25 runs in three matches so far.
Another alternative is Urvil Patel, who featured in three games last season, scoring 68 runs at an impressive strike rate of 212.50. The team management could also opt to promote Sarfaraz Khan up the order to strengthen the top lineup.
Mhatre’s absence comes as a major setback for CSK in their playoff push. The 18-year-old has been one of their standout performers this season, scoring 201 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 177.87. His best performance came against Punjab Kings in Chennai, where he scored 73, along with another crucial half-century against Delhi Capitals in a winning effort.
Following their latest defeat to SRH, Chennai Super Kings are currently eighth on the points table with just four points from six matches, leaving them with a tough road ahead in the tournament.
