"You don't mind at all if you don't get him" - Aakash Chopra on CSK's potential targets in IPL 2026 auction

Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) might not be too keen to acquire Cameron Green at the IPL 2026 auction. While observing that the five-time champions might bid for the Australian all-rounder for a while, he reckoned that they won't mind if they don't get him.

CSK have an available purse of ₹43.40 crore heading into the IPL 2026 auction. They can acquire at most nine players, including four overseas, at the mini auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that CSK might not be too eager to buy Green, highlighting that they rarely spend an exorbitant sum for a player.

"Chennai very rarely buy someone for ₹25-30 crore. It's not their style. They might go for Cameron Green for some time, and then say they don't need him, or at times, you strategically keep increasing someone's price, but you don't mind at all if you don't get him," he said (5:25).

However, Chopra opined that the Chennai-based franchise needs a middle-order batter.

"So CSK might not show that much interest in Cameron Green. However, they will have to show interest in a middle-order batter. It seems like the top six is fine, but they are not all fine. I see slightly less experience. If you have the option of overseas players available, play them," he reasoned.

The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player named a few overseas batters CSK might be interested in.

"They might like Liam Livingstone. They might take Devon Conway back. Jonny Bairstow might not suit them that much. They might like Jamie Smith, a player who can bat down the order. They might be interested in David Miller. Since you have so much money, take two overseas batters at least," Chopra observed.

While the Chennai Super Kings released Devon Conway ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, Liam Livingstone and David Miller weren't retained by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), respectively. While the Mumbai Indians (MI) couldn't have retained Jonny Bairstow, as he was signed as a temporary player, Jamie Smith will be available for the first time in an IPL auction.

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"They are likely to break their bank on Ravi Bishnoi" - Aakash Chopra on CSK needing to acquire spinners at the IPL 2026 auction

Ravi Bishnoi was released by LSG ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) might spend a huge sum to acquire Ravi Bishnoi at the IPL 2026 auction.

"They need spinners. They are likely to break their bank on Ravi Bishnoi because they need him for sure. You will have to find a partner for Noor Ahmad, and too many partners aren't available. You will see Karn Sharma, Bishnoi and Rahul Chahar there, and then Vignesh Puthur and Kumar Kartikeya. I feel they will get Ravi Bishnoi. No one else might be able to spend that much money on him," he said. (6:40)

The cricketer-turned-commentator reckoned that Michael Bracewell and Cooper Connolly might be in CSK's thoughts as spin-bowling all-rounders.

"They should very seriously think about Michael Bracewell. They don't have an off-spinner in the entire team. So an off-spinner, batter, a slightly low-profile player, but a gun player. I will be surprised if they don't think about him. They might think about Cooper Connolly as they can get a lower-order batter who can bowl left-arm spin," Chopra observed.

While acknowledging that the Chennai Super Kings have a plethora of seam-bowling options, Aakash Chopra reckoned that they might want to acquire a replacement for the released Matheesha Pathirana. He added that CSK might run after Venkatesh Iyer and David Miller as middle-order batting options, highlighting that MS Dhoni doesn't bat at No. 7.