Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be among the busiest teams at the 2026 IPL auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16. The franchise will enter the bidding war with the second-highest purse of ₹43.40 crore after releasing as many as 10 players and trading all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran during the off-season.While several big-ticket names have been tipped as buys for CSK in the auction, the franchise has always been famous for making left-field yet shrewd choices. One such move in the upcoming auction could be discarded batter Sarfaraz Khan.The Mumbai batter has been in excellent form in the ongoing 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), scoring 256 runs at an average of 64 and a strike rate of almost 183 in six outings. Despite not featuring in the last two IPL seasons, Sarfaraz is no stranger to the league, having played 50 games in his career.With a base price of ₹75 Lakhs, the 28-year-old could be one CSK target in the IPL 2026 auction, and here are three reasons why.#1 Versatility and adaptability have become Sarfaraz Khan's second nameSarfaraz Khan has turned himself into a reliable batter across almost all the positions in a batting order. Even in the ongoing SMAT competition, the right-hander has opened the batting and batted at No.4 on occasions despite No. 3 being his usual spot.Such versatility offers incredible value to a side reliant on rebuilding after a down 2025 season. Furthermore, Sarfaraz has always been a floater in the batting order in the shortest format.In his 102-match T20 career, the Mumbai batter has batted in all positions from one to seven numerous times. Sarfaraz has batted in the top three in 10 innings, averaging 37 at a strike rate of over 170.He has batted at No.4, 5, and 6 more than 10 times each, while also batting at No. 7 six times. An Indian batter with the ability to bat at several positions is a luxury very few teams boast, and Sarfaraz could provide CSK that option in IPL 2026.#2 Perfect bridge between the solid top three and the fearsome ball-strikersWith the trade for Sanju Samson, CSK boasts an excellent top three with Samson, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, and the talented Ayush Mhatre. They also possess fearsome six-hitters and finishers, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, and MS Dhoni.However, a bridge or a guts-and-glew batter between these two sections would complete the batting order, and that's where Sarfaraz Khan could be the ideal fit. With his ability to maneuver spinners, the right-hander could be the perfect No. 4 for CSK, setting things up for the likes of Dube and Brevis.Sarfaraz's ability to innovate and produce unorthodox shots could also help CSK's predominantly one-dimensional batting. Furthermore, the right-hander's lone IPL half-century came at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai with a 59-ball 67 against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2019.With the venue hosting half of CSK's games, Sarfaraz's skill set could be extremely valuable to them on potentially slow and low pitches.#3 Sarfaraz Khan fits in the ever-desirable 'Low risk, high reward' categoryThe timing could not be better for a side like CSK to take a punt on a player like Sarfaraz Khan. The Mumbai batter has been out of the Indian Test side since the end of last year and found no takers in the previous two IPL auctions.Thus, his motivation levels to deliver the goods should a second opportunity arise in the IPL will be high. Furthermore, with a base price of ₹75 Lakh, Sarfaraz will likely not go for too many beyond that mark, making him a potential bargain buy in hindsight.At 28, Sarfaraz is at the peak of his powers and is in sublime current form in the shortest format. Adding him to their middle order could also help CSK invest in overseas players for other roles, especially the bowling.Should the Sarfaraz experiment fail, the five-time champions will likely not lose too much. Yet, should the returns shoot up in years to come, the franchise will benefit massively from acquiring him when his stock was at its lowest.