IPL Auction | Chennai Super Kings retention analysis, squad holes, and targets for 2026 – SportsCafe.in

Follow us
ByGantavya Adukia,SportsCafe Editor
Chennai Super Kings will walk into the auction in a unique position, having the second highest purse of INR 43.40 crores behind Kolkata Knight Riders. Mid-season reinforcements and a mega off-season trade has already brought about some major fixes, but much work remains to be done at the auction.
Paul, the Octopus, would have died seven deaths before he could have accurately predicted how the trade window would work out ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction. The Chennai Super Kings management would themselves have made the execution all seven times for the storylines to turn out exactly how they did, come the present day. Since being doomed almost straightaway to a wooden spoon finish at the start of IPL 2025, a lot of lucky breaks have gone the Whistle Podu clan’s way. Ravichandran Ashwin retiring and instantly freeing up 10 crores; Ruturaj Gaikwad and Gurjapneet Singh’s injuries that allowed Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre to come into the fold. Sanju Samson ending a 15-year association with Rajasthan Royals and choosing Chennai as his destination. But that has always been the hallmark of any well-run sports dynasty, because they know how to convert those breaks into wins. So far, so good, but it will depend on how they spend a historic purse of INR 43.40 at the auction that will ultimately decide their fate, and the fans could do with a guide; worry not, the nerds are here.
Backup(s): Urvil Patel 
The composition of Chennai’s top three is beyond doubt, the only question is the order. After being an opening mainstay for half a decade, Gaikwad inexplicably made the switch to number three last year and stuck to his guns despite middling returns, until injury ruled him out five games into the season. The captain had stated that the team balance required him to make the move, but he was more than happy with it, while players, who were part of the camp itself in the past, like Ashwin and Robin Uthappa, have spoken publicly about Gaikwad’s preference in recent times to bat at three. With the youngster already announced as leader for the upcoming season, prepare for a new top-order era at CSK.
Possible targets: Perhaps a second-tier overseas opener-keeper, such as a Jamie Smith/ Ben Duckett/ Tim Seifert
Backup(s): Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh
Dube and Brevis might both want to bat four, but the former’s record at the spot is far superior than at any other spot for CSK, with an average of 43.80 and a strike rate of 175.20 in 18 matches. Regardless, batting orders are an outdated concept in the modern T20 world, with entry points and matchups set to dictate who comes when on a particular day. Moving on, the loss of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, as well as the tragic trio of Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, and Vijay Shankar has completely hollowed out Chennai Super Kings’ lower middle-order. Unless Chennai are confident that Dube can pitch in at least two overs every game, whoever they pick has to be an all-rounder because slotting in MS Dhoni at eight forces them to field just four frontline bowling options. They will undoubtedly spend a major chunk of that INR 43.40 crore purse on these two spots, and will need to, too, given six-hitting all-rounders don’t come cheap in this economy. 
So, who are the frontline options for CSK? Two names that immediately stand out are Andre Russell and Cameron Green. Given KKR is the only team with a bigger purse than Chennai’s, the Yellow Army can rest be assured of securing at least one of the two options. However, they are not far from the most high-profile names available following the release of Glenn Maxwell and Liam Livingstone, while Daryl Mitchell also went unsold last year. There are favourable arguments to be made for each: Maxwell can bowl in the powerplay akin to a Jadeja, Livingstone can bowl both off-spin and leg-spin, while Mitchell can play floater and suit his game to the team’s needs. The contrary also holds true: Maxwell’s off-field issues during the IPL are well-documented and stick out in stark contrast to the CSK culture (even though his relationship with Stephen Fleming may allay some of those concerns), Livingstone struggles against spin and just has one IPL season of note to his name, while Mitchell is not explosive enough to solve Chennai’s power-hitting issues from last year. Then there’s always Moeen Ali to fall back on.
Picking two foreigners for the slot would also be an issue given it would leave them with Noor Ahmad as the only foreign bowler and no Nathan Ellis. Besides, a completely overseas dependent middle-order core has nearly never worked wonders in the IPL. I did a simple exercise to shortlist proven Indian options by taking out the top-50 batters in these two positions in the IPL since 2023, and the only two names I could locate that are available are Abhinav Manohar and Mahipal Lomror. Make of that what you will. Venkatesh Iyer could be a potential fix, but whether he belongs as low as six is worth considering.
My primary choice would be Dre Russ (assuming KKR go big for Green), given he is not only the most proven and explosive player in the pool but also is one of the most experienced cricketers in T20 history, a trait CSK has historically been inclined towards. Moreover, his lack of pace at this stage in his career makes him a vulnerable bowling option at most venues, but the slow, sluggish tracks of Chepauk could just prove to be a good hunting ground for the Caribbean legend. Along similar lines, Sikandar Raza has all the skillsets to become a 2026 Chennai player — experience, defensive spin-bowling, and striking ability at the death.
Possible targets: Cameron Green, Andre Russell, Sikandar Raza, Glenn Maxwell, Liam Livingstone, Daryl Mitchell, Venkatesh Iyer, Abhinav Manohar
Backup(s): Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh, Shreyas Gopal
24 wickets at 17 at an economy of 8.16, there is no world in which Noor is not the first name on the CSK team sheet as far as bowlers are concerned. With Matheesha Pathirana also gone, Ellis becomes an automatic selection, given he is the only death bowler in the squad at present. That’s not to say he is a forced pick, though, given the Aussie has established himself as one of the most elite variation bowlers in the T20 circuit and the recent T20I series against India bears further testimony to the same — there’s little chance Pathirana would have been released if CSK did not have faith in Ellis’ skillset.
That leaves two pace slots empty and with four foreigners done, both must be Indian. Khaleel was not only the highest powerplay wicket taker for CSK last year but also their only standout bowler in that place. Being a left-hander practically confirms his place in the team, with Mukesh not enough competition to topple him just yet. For the final slot, it is either Kamboj or Gurjapneet as things stand albeit both Indian quicks are unproven in the IPL and far from a finished product.
Fortunately, the market is brimming with new ball options even if none of them are marquee selections. Chennai will definitely have an eye on the department, but might have to settle for the lesser picks after spending their budget on marquee middle-order picks.
Possible targets: Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Akash Madhwal, Kuldeep Sen, Chetan Sakariya, Simarjeet Singh, Matt Henry, Mustafizur Rahman, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
Sign up or log in to your account to leave comments and reactions
Quiz: Guess the Famous Cricket Stadium from its Historic Moment
On This Day In Cricket – November 19
Helicopter Shot Quiz: Dhoni’s Iconic Sixes Secrets
On This Day In Cricket – November 18
Super Over Quiz: Guess the Match from the Legendary Moment!
I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions
Follow Us
Football Media
sports
legal
contacts
Follow Us
Football Media

source