CSK at the IPL 2026 Auction: A Fresh Rebuild With Bold Moves
After a rare low in IPL 2025, where Chennai Super Kings finished at the bottom of the table for the first time in franchise history, CSK went into the IPL 2026 auction with a clear mission — rebuild and strengthen.
The franchise entered the mini-auction with one of the biggest purses (₹43.40 crore) and used it strategically to add a blend of experience and promising young talent.
CSK Full Squad for IPL 2026
Here’s the complete squad combining retained players, trades, and auction buys:
Retained & Traded Players
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
MS Dhoni (wk)
Sanju Samson (traded from RR)
Ayush Mhatre
Dewald Brevis
Shivam Dube
Urvil Patel
Jamie Overton
Noor Ahmad
Khaleel Ahmed
Anshul Kamboj
Gurjapneet Singh
Mukesh Choudhary
Shreyas Gopal
(plus other core squad members)
Players Bought at the IPL 2026 Auction
Prashant Veer – ₹14.20 crore (uncapped)
Kartik Sharma – ₹14.20 crore (uncapped)
Rahul Chahar – ₹5.20 crore
Akeal Hosein – ₹2 crore
Matt Henry – ₹2 crore
Matthew Short – ₹1.5 crore
Sarfaraz Khan – ₹75 lakh
Zak Foulkes – ₹75 lakh
Aman Khan – ₹40 lakh
This gives CSK a balanced 25-player squad with 8 overseas players and plenty of options in all departments.
How CSK Looks for IPL 2026
Batting Strength
CSK have fortified their batting with:
Sanju Samson — high-impact top order and match-winner
Ruturaj Gaikwad — proven opener and captain
Dewald Brevis — dynamic middle-order batting
Shivam Dube & Matt Short — powerful all-round hitters
Kartik Sharma — explosive finisher talent with depth potential
Dhoni’s presence adds calm and finishing ability from the lower middle order — a crucial advantage in close games.
Bowling Balance
The bowling unit blends experience and variety:
Noor Ahmad & Rahul Chahar — spin twin threat
Nathan Ellis & Matt Henry — seam bowling punch
Khaleel Ahmed & Akeal Hosein — good death bowling options
Anshul Kamboj & Gurjapneet Singh — emerging local pace assets
The squad now looks deeper and more flexible than last year, especially with all-rounders available in varied roles.
Best Picks & Auction Highlights
Top Auction Value Players for CSK
Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma — Both fetched ₹14.2 crore each, making them joint most expensive uncapped players in IPL history and signalling CSK’s long-term vision.
Sanju Samson (₹18 crore trade) — A major batting reinforcement and CSK’s new marquee top-order batsman.
Rahul Chahar & Matt Henry — Important bowling reinforcements.
The bold investment in young Indian talent — especially with Veer and Sharma — reflects a strategic shift from experience-only to future-oriented flexibility.
Probable Best XI for IPL 2026
Here’s a strong lineup CSK could deploy based on squad balance and roles:
1. Ayush Mhatre
2. Sanju Samson (wk)
3. Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
4. Dewald Brevis
5. Shivam Dube
6. Kartik Sharma / Prashant Veer
7. MS Dhoni (finisher/wk backup)
8. Noor Ahmad
9. Nathan Ellis
10. Matt Henry / Akeal Hosein
11. Khaleel Ahmed / Anshul Kamboj .
Tactical note: Specials like Sarfaraz Khan or Zak Foulkes could easily rotate into the XI depending on conditions. l
Why This CSK Looks Strong (and Different)
Balanced batting depth: CSK now have big hitters, solid top order and finishing options.
Spin variety: With two quality spinners, they can control middle overs.
Bowling depth: Seam attack has flexibility across phases.
Blend of youth + experience: Proven IPL stars and uncapped stars ready to shine.l
The 2026 squad looks poised to bounce back strongly from their 2025 slump and challenge for the title once again.
Overall Verdict:
CSK’s IPL 2026 auction strategy — bold investments, smart depth, and creative role building — boosts their chances to be a serious title contender this season
