3 reasons why CSK must start with Urvil Patel in playing XI in IPL 2026

Gujarat skipper Urvil Patel stole the limelight on the opening day of the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) on Wednesday, November 26. After opting to bowl first, Gujarat restricted Services to 182/9 in 20 overs, thanks largely to a 60-run knock off 37 balls from Gaurav Kochar.

In reply, Urvil Patel went absolutely berserk, reaching his hundred in just 31 balls. He stitched a 174-run opening stand with Aarya Desai, who scored 60 off 35 deliveries. Urvil, meanwhile, remained unbeaten on a breathtaking 119 off 37 balls, smashing 12 fours and 10 sixes as Gujarat chased down the target in only 12.3 overs to seal an eight-wicket win.

In IPL 2026, Urvil Patel will turn out for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), having made his debut for the franchise in the 2025 season. With the right-hander making waves with his explosive form, here are three reasons why CSK must start with Urvil Patel in their playing XI in IPL 2026.

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#1 Urvil Patel can be a game-changer in the middle order alongside Dewald Brevis

In IPL 2025, CSK endured a disappointing season, finishing at the bottom of the table, with their regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad also ruled out five games into the tournament due to injury. Their batting unit struggled throughout, with the likes of Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, and Vijay Shankar failing to deliver consistent performances.

Heading into the 2026 season, Urvil Patel and Dewald Brevis, both of whom joined the franchise last year as injury replacements, could be the X-factor for CSK. South Africa’s Brevis was outstanding in IPL 2025, scoring 225 runs in six innings at an average of 37.50 and a strike rate of 180.00, including two half-centuries. His upward trajectory has continued since then.

Urvil, meanwhile, has showcased immense potential with his aggressive batting. He has played 51 T20s, scoring 1349 runs at an average of 28.70 and a strike rate of 179.62, including four fifties and three hundreds. With both players in such exceptional form, the Urvil and Brevis pairing could emerge as genuine game-changers for the Super Kings in the upcoming season.

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#2 Urvil’s attacking style can help the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson play their natural game

Known for his aggressive style, Urvil Patel can attack from the very first ball, disrupting the opposition’s bowling rhythm. His intent will not only help boost the team’s run rate but also provide freedom for batters like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson, who prefer to start cautiously before accelerating.

By setting the tempo, Urvil will allow these batters to anchor the innings, rotating the strike and attacking when needed, confident that he is pressuring the bowlers from the other end. This ability will make the team more potent, whether batting in the powerplay or during the middle overs.

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#3 Red-hot domestic form in T20s makes him a must-pick

While Urvil lit up the opening day of the 2025-26 SMAT, this is not the first sign of him emerging as a batter to watch in the format. In the previous edition of the tournament in 2024-25, he had also produced brilliant performances.

The 27-year-old featured in six games for Gujarat, scoring 315 runs at an average of 78.75 and a strike rate of 229.92, including two centuries and 29 sixes. He has continued his fine form in the format, strengthening the case for including him in CSK’s playing XI in IPL 2026 and giving him more game time to showcase his potential.