3 reasons why CSK must target David Miller in IPL 2026 Auction

South Africa veteran player David Miller finds himself in the auction pool once again after being released by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) during the off-season. The explosive left-handed batter was brought by the franchise for INR 7.50 crore, but had an underwhelming campaign with the bat.

With a massive demand for proven overseas players and limited supply, David Miller has emerged as one of the marquee names for the upcoming 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction. He has enlisted himself for the event at a base price of INR 2 crore, and is placed in the very first set of the auction.

David Miller recently returned from injury to feature in the T20I series against India, where he scored a cameo of 20 runs off 12 balls in South Africa's convincing win in Mullanpur in the second match.

On that note, let us take a look at three reasons why CSK must target David Miller in the IPL 2026 Auction.

#1 CSK have a massive hole in their lower middle-order

The departures of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran complicate an already glaring issue for CSK, which is the role of a chief finisher. With MS Dhoni largely a death overs specialist, the franchise need another player of a similar explosive caliber to round up their team. They primarily need someone who can ensure the momentum from the explosive middle-order continues into the final third of the innings.

So, as far as pursuing David Miller is concerned, the need or requirement is certainly there, and he presents himself as an excellent option on paper. They have the vacant spot in the playing XI, enough overseas slots, and the purse to facilitate this move.

Given that CSK have a predominantly right-handed batting unit (Mhatre, Samson, Gaikwad, Brevis, and Dhoni), Miller being a left-handed batter augurs well for the franchise. This can give them an incentive to push either him or Dube up the order if the need strikes to combat either wrist spinners or left-arm spinners.

#2 CSK do not have other feasible alternatives to go for in the auction

It is evident that CSK cannot walk out of the auction without picking up a high-profile target that can fill the vacant spot in the middle-order. While both Andre Russell and Glenn Maxwell would have been valid targets, their absence from the auction pool forces the team to seek an alternative option.

Another prospective target is England's Liam Livingstone, who also brings his spin-bowling ability with him. While his traits are a perfect match for the profile that CSK are looking for, his shaky IPL record over the years is a massive red flag. Other potential targets also bring up some sort of issue or the other. Wanindu Hasaranga is not a good enough batter for the role, Jamie Smith is unproven and not an ideal match or profile, while Venkatesh Iyer is also a far-fetched option.

As a result, Miller, despite coming into the auction with his own set of shortcomings, is arguably the best option that CSK can go for, compared to the options available in the market.

#3 CSK have known to get the best out of veteran players in the past

Miller's age and form are two potential factors that are against him ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. But, a side like CSK need not dwell on it because they are more than familiar with handling such players who are at this stage of their careers. As far as form is concerned, a world-class player like Miller will not need long to be back at his best.

He was branded as a finished player after his poor stint with the Rajasthan Royals (RR). He followed that up with perhaps his most successful IPL stint with the Gujarat Titans (GT), where he played a massive role in their title win in 2022.

Another factor that aligns Miller and CSK together is the fact that he has played for the Texas Super Kings (TSK) in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the past. While he did not have the best of campaigns, he is familiar with the setup and how head coach Stephen Fleming operates.