Fast bowling all-rounders are a valuable asset in modern-day cricket, and India is always looking for the next big name to fill that role. Hardik Pandya has been the top contender for a while now, but there are other players vying for a spot.
One such player is Vijay Shankar. Recently, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) picked him up for Rs 1.20 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. This move sent a buzz through the cricket world, especially after CSK posted a video on their social media showcasing Shankar’s impressive batting against Pandya himself.
“6.6.6. Vijay in beast mode”: CSK Posts Vijay Shankar Hitting Hardik Pandya for Back-to-Back Sixes in SMAT 2025
The video captured Shankar hitting three consecutive sixes off Pandya’s bowling in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 match. CSK captioned the post, “6.6.6. Vijay in beast mode,” clearly excited about their new acquisition.
While Shankar has represented India in 12 ODIs and 9 T20Is, his last international appearance was back in June 2019. This recent performance in SMAT 2024, however, might be a sign of things to come.
This social media battle between Shankar and Pandya has certainly added some spice to the upcoming cricket season. With both players performing well in domestic tournaments, the competition for the all-rounder role in the Indian team and the IPL is heating up!
Here is how Chennai Super Kings squads looks after the IPL 2025 Auction:
CSK IPL 2025 Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Devon Conway (Rs. 6.25 crore), Rahul Tripathi (Rs. 3.40 crore), Rachin Ravindra (Rs. 4 crore), R. Ashwin (Rs. 9.75 crore), Khaleel Ahmed (Rs. 4.80 crore), Noor Ahmad (Rs. 10 crore), Vijay Shankar (Rs. 1.20 crore), Sam Curran (Rs. 2.40 crore), Shaik Rasheed (Rs. 30 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (Rs. 3.40 crore), Mukesh Choudhary (Rs. 30 lakh), Deepak Hooda (Rs. 1.70 crore), Gurjapneet Singh (Rs. 2.20 crore), Nathan Ellis (Rs. 2 crore), Jamie Overton (Rs. 1.50 crore), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Rs. 30 lakh), Ramakrishna Ghosh (Rs. 30 lakh), Shreyas Gopal (Rs. 30 lakh), Vansh Bedi (Rs. 55 lakh), Andre Siddarth (Rs. 30 lakh).
CSK Purse Remaining: Rs. 0.05 crore
CSK RTM Cards Left: 0
CSK Player Slots Remaining: 0
CSK Overseas Player Slots Remaining: 1
CSK Retained Players List: Ruturaj Gaikwad (Rs. 18 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (Rs. 13 crore), Shivam Dube (Rs. 12 crore), Ravindra Jadeja (Rs. 18 crore), MS Dhoni (Rs. 4 crore).
Also read: List of Players CSK Bought in IPL 2025 Mega Auction
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