WATCH: CSK batter Ayush Mhatre reveals Sachin Tendulkar’s message after recent interaction with iconic cricketer

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting sensation Ayush Mhatre recently met legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. The 17-year-old posted a picture of himself with Tendulkar with a signed bat by the master himself. Mhatre took to his Instagram handle and wrote, “Some moments are bigger than words. Meeting the God of cricket Was Indeed a Surreal feeling. Thank you.”

⏪Unexplainable feeling Ft. Ayush! 💛✨#WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/w2gYXqyiw3

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 20, 2025

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A post shared by Ayush Mhatre (@ayush_m255)

Ahead of the game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Tuesday, CSK posted a short video where the youngster shared what Tendulkar told him during the meeting. CSK’s young batter said, “I can’t express my feelings, but he only told me that ‘play your game’ and just be yourself’

Mhatre was signed by CSK as a replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad after impressing during the trials. In five matches so far this season, the 17-year-old has scored 163 runs with a strike rate of 181. His best of 94 came in the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru which CSK lost by a close margin. 

Former Australian star asks CSK to release veteran cricketer ahead of next season

Chennai are currently bottom of the table and a win on Tuesday will help them move to ninth spot and avoid the wooden spoon. Former Australian World Cup winner Tom Moody has asked the team to take some tough decisions ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Former SRH coach has asked CSK to part ways with veteran spinner R. Ashwin in a bid to raise more funds for the next auctions. 

During his chat on ESPN Cricinfo, Moody said, “I understand the philosophy behind CSK going for Ashwin because, at the end of the day, they have always gone for proven and mature players and that philosophy has worked for them over the duration of the IPL. But if you are needing to release funds, the obvious one would be Ashwin”

The former Aussie star also added, “He went for close to 10 crores in the auction and that's a lot of money for someone that's not guaranteed a place in the XI. So that maybe a hard conversation that the management will have to have with him,”