“CSK will benefit greatly from his form” - Suresh Raina’s massive claim on discarded Indian batter ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Former Indian batter Suresh Raina urged the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to target the in-form Sarfaraz Khan in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction on Tuesday, December 16. The 28-year-old has been in sparkling touch in the ongoing 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) for Mumbai.

Sarfaraz has amassed 256 runs in the competition at an average of 64 and a strike rate of almost 183 in six games. Meanwhile, CSK enter the auction with the second-highest purse of ₹43.40 crore.

Talking about the franchise's auction plans on Star Sports, Raina said (via India Today):

"The form Sarfaraz is in, even if he plays four or six matches and wins you two games, it will be fully justified. Chennai’s wicket is technically sound, and if he gets set in a system like CSK, where the focus is on winning games, I think CSK will benefit greatly from his form."

Raina added:

"I think he is in great form. We saw earlier that when Venkatesh Iyer was bought for a big amount, the form wasn’t quite there. Sarfaraz, on the other hand, is batting really well right now. You don’t get that kind of player easily—the range of shots he plays, the confidence he has."

CSK endured an underwhelming 2025 season, finishing at the bottom of the standings with only four wins in 14 games. They released several players before the auction in an attempt to rejig the roster for next year.

Sarfaraz Khan hasn't played in the IPL since the 2023 season

Despite his dominance in domestic cricket, Sarfaraz Khan found no buyers in the last two IPL auctions in 2024 and 2025. The right-hander last played an IPL game for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2023.

Sarfaraz has played for three franchises, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and DC, in his eight-year IPL career. The Mumbai batter hasn't set the league on fire thus far, averaging under 23 at a strike rate of 130.58 in 50 outings.

His overall T20 numbers are only a tick better with an average of 25.33 and a strike rate of 135.42 in 102 matches. Yet, his current short-format form should benefit him in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction, where he will enter with a base price of ₹75 Lakhs.