Speaking on JioStar’s ‘TATA IPL: Dream On’, Mhatre detailed his journey from being unsold at the auction to becoming an injury replacement for skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.

The batter has played 10 matches for CSK, scoring 314 runs in 10 innings with an average of 31.40, a strike rate exceeding 180, and two fifties. Mhatre recalled that the auction happened concurrently with the ACC U19 Asia Cup in December 2024, during which he remained unsold but stayed focused on the Asia Cup.

“The Asia Cup was going on, and the auction was happening side by side. It would have been great if I got picked, but even if I did not, I did not need to feel bad because I had another big target to focus on, which was the Asia Cup. But as they say, things happen for a reason. I was at the NCA when I got a call from CSK. They wanted to see me bat in the nets, so I had a two-day camp with them. I came back to the NCA, and two to three days later, I got another call asking me to be ready and inform my family, as they were completing the formalities,” he said.

Mhatre also described his first interaction with India and CSK legend MS Dhoni, who encouraged him to play his shots while controlling his attacking instincts.

“They said I could play the next game against LSG, but I couldn’t get a flight ticket. So, I joined the team in Mumbai. The team was very welcoming. During my first interaction with Mahi bhai, he told me that now that I was selected, I should just play my game, go for my shots, but not try to hit every ball, and continue doing what I had been doing for the last two to three years,” he said.

In his debut season with CSK, Mhatre scored 240 runs in seven innings at an average of 34.28 and a strike rate of 188.97, including a top score of 94 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. His aggressive style and six-hitting ability brought new energy to CSK’s batting lineup.

He also spoke about his interaction with Rohit Sharma, who praised his batting, offered advice on handling short-pitched bowling, and encouraged him to call anytime.

“Rohit Sharma is my favourite cricketer. I have been watching his batting since childhood. He spoke to me very nicely after the game in the IPL. That was the first time I met him. He praised my batting, gave me a few tips on playing the short ball, and urged me to continue playing the way I have been. He even said that I could call him anytime without hesitation, and that really helped calm my nerves,” Mhatre said.

Reflecting on his aspirations, Mhatre said, “Every young cricketer’s dream is to play for India. The moment of wearing the jersey during the Under-19 World Cup was special. I didn’t take any pressure about carrying a legacy or anything like that. My main goal is to play for India, stay in the team for a long time, and perform. Whether it is the Ranji Trophy or the IPL, wherever I get a chance to play, I want to do well and not focus too much on the results; they will follow automatically.”

Despite struggling with the bat before and during the U19 World Cup, Mhatre delivered crucial half-centuries against Afghanistan and England in the semifinal and final respectively. Over seven matches, he scored 214 runs at an average of 30.57 with a strike rate of 113.22, including three fifties. He also took seven wickets at an average of 12.42, including a three-wicket haul against Pakistan.