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The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had an interesting time at the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. The Men in Yellow prioritized young uncapped talent for the most part, going against the grain of recent years.
The Super Kings signed nine players on Tuesday, December 16. Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma were the most expensive purchases, despite initial reports indicating that the five-time IPL champions had a couple of marquee overseas players in their crosshairs.
CSK's squad for IPL 2026: Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Sarfaraz Khan (INR 75 lakh), Kartik Sharma (INR 14.20 Cr), Prashant Veer (INR 14.20 Cr), Matthew Short (INR 1.50 Cr), Aman Khan (INR 40 lakh), Zak Foulkes (INR 75 lakh), Akeal Hosein (INR 2 Cr), Rahul Chahar (INR 5.2 Cr), Matt Henry (INR 2 Cr).
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How can Chennai line up during the upcoming campaign? On that note, here is CSK's strongest playing XI and impact player options after the IPL 2026 auction.
Openers: Ayush Mhatre and Sanju Samson
Ayush Mhatre had a breakthrough campaign in IPL 2025, and although his age-group returns haven't been great, he impressed during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The young right-hander is expected to open the batting alongside Sanju Samson, who was recently acquired via trade from the Rajasthan Royals.
Middle Order: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, MS Dhoni (wk), Prashant Veer
Ruturaj Gaikwad has moved away from the opening spot in recent times, and No. 3 seems ideal for him. The classy right-hander will be key to CSK's fortunes during IPL 2026, as both batter and captain.
Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube are shoo-ins in the middle order. Their ideal batting positions overlap, so Chennai might need to choose between them depending on the situation.
In Ravindra Jadeja's absence, Prashant Veer will be the team's premier spin-bowling all-rounder. Following the amount he has been signed for, the left-arm spinner will certainly feature in the playing XI.
There have been concerns over MS Dhoni's fitness in recent IPL seasons, with some even suggesting that he might only feature as an impact player during the upcoming season. However, the CSK legend will be needed in front of and behind the stumps. He is expected to start the season as a frontline player, although he can no longer afford to face just a few deliveries.
Lower Order: Matt Henry, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Nathan Ellis
CSK have a number of options regarding their fourth overseas slot. They can field either Jamie Overton or Matt Short lower down the order to give themselves an extra option in both departments. Akeal Hosein is another contender, although Veer's acquisition has dented his chances a fair bit.
However, the best course of action might be to pick two specialist overseas fast bowlers. Anshul Kamboj hasn't quite established himself as a reliable all-phase bowler in T20s, and picking him as part of a three-pronged pace attack might not be the best idea.
Chennai can thus play Matt Henry and Nathan Ellis as their two overseas pacers, with Khaleel Ahmed being the frontline Indian option. Noor Ahmad will lead the spin attack, having been their best bowler in the previous campaign.
This combination would allow the usage of an Indian batter as an impact player. Speaking of which...
Impact Player Options: Kartik Sharma, Urvil Patel, Sarfaraz Khan
If CSK lose two wickets early, they could send in Sarfaraz Khan to beef up the top order. Urvil Patel, who has been in sensational hitting form, is another attacking option, although his game is clearly more high-variance.
If the Super Kings want someone who can feature in the middle order or as a finisher, Kartik Sharma will likely be their best bet. The recently signed keeper-batter has impressed all with his power hitting, and having him come off the bench would be a good boost for the Men in Yellow.
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