IPL 2025: James Anderson could end up playing for CSK, predicts Michael Vaughan

Veteran England seamer James Anderson registered his name for the first time in the IPL auction, with his base price being INR 1.25 crore. Having announced retirement from cricket following a decorated two-decade-plus career, Anderson harbours hopes of playing franchise cricket, saying he still has some cricket left in him. Anderson’s former captain, Michael Vaughan, has predicted which team the Test great could be playing for next season.

With the IPL 2025 mega auction just around the corner, scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, all eyes would be on Anderson, 42, among the oldest players to register their name in the auction.

Although all 10 teams would either try retaining their core and go for top Indian capped players, with Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer likely to make headlines for their respective bids, Vaughan said he will not be surprised to see Anderson playing at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025.

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“You mention James Anderson; I would not be surprised if Jimmy Anderson ends up at Chennai Super Kings. You heard it here first. They are a team that like someone who can swing it in the first few overs.”

“They have always had a swinger, whether it is Shardul Thakur or someone else. It would not surprise me if Jimmy Anderson ends up at Chennai,” Vaughan said on the Club Prairie Fire podcast alongside co-host Adam Gilchrist.

While CSK has the reputation of chasing experienced players regardless of the age factor, going after Anderson, who remains lethal with the new ball across conditions, might work in CSK’s favour.

However, the chances of Anderson remaining unsold at the mega auction could also be possible, given the age factor.

IPL 2025 mega auction

A total of 1547 players have registered for 204 slots available to be filled, with each franchise allowed to bag a maximum of 25 players. While 1165 are Indian players, 409 overseas cricketers have registered for the auction, 52 of which are English.

Alongside Anderson, premier pacer Jofra Archer has also registered his name while England Test captain and star all-rounder Ben Stokes decided against putting his name forward for the next season to manage his fitness and workload, given the tight Test schedule that follows.

(With inputs from agencies)