Chennai Super Kings - IPL 2026 Squad Analysis

Chennai Super Kings enter IPL 2026 with a transformed squad following aggressive moves in the December 2025 mega auction. The headline acquisition is Sanju Samson, traded from Rajasthan Royals at ₹18 Cr, who joins retained captain Ruturaj Gaikwad at ₹18 Cr to form one of the most formidable opening partnerships in the league. This represents a significant strategic shift toward explosive, modern T20 batting.

The most striking investment signal comes from the record-breaking ₹14.2 Cr bids on uncapped players Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer. As noted in recent reports, this represents "a departure from their usual strategy" - CSK traditionally favoring proven performers over expensive youth investments. This signals a clear intent to build for the post-Dhoni era while MS Dhoni potentially plays his final season.

The bowling attack is anchored by Noor Ahmad at ₹10 Cr, who was IPL 2025's second-highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets across all phases. Key overseas signings at base price include Matt Henry, Akeal Hosein, and Jamie Overton, providing tactical depth without straining the overseas quota.

Strategic Direction: CSK is building a transitional squad that balances Dhoni-era experience with aggressive youth investment. Kartik Sharma appears positioned as Dhoni's long-term successor, while Prashant Veer fills the Ravindra Jadeja-shaped hole as a left-arm spinning all-rounder. The retention of Stephen Fleming as coach ensures continuity in playing philosophy.

One-line assessment: A squad strongest in spin bowling and top-order batting, with significant upside if uncapped investments deliver, but questions around middle-order depth and overseas slot management.

Full Roster (25 Players)

Squad Balance

Investment Hierarchy

The willingness to spend ₹14.2 Cr each on uncapped players indicates CSK sees Kartik and Prashant as future franchise cornerstones, not just squad fillers.

Home Ground: MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk)

Chepauk is traditionally a spin-friendly surface that rewards slower bowlers, especially in second innings when the pitch deteriorates. Team aggregates show 19 runs per match average and 8.73 bowling economy across 153 batting matches and 55 bowling matches - favorable for CSK's spin-heavy approach.

Batting Performance at Chepauk

Sanju Samson's limited Chepauk experience (just 5 matches as a visiting player) means his record here is yet to be written. His adaptability and hunger to succeed in new environments - evidenced by his 824 runs at Jaipur and dominant performances across India - suggests he'll relish the challenge of making Chepauk his new home. With Ruturaj providing stability, Samson has the freedom to play his natural aggressive game.

The positive news is that Ruturaj Gaikwad's 50.93 average at Chepauk is exceptional - he thrives on slower surfaces and can anchor innings effectively.

Bowling Performance at Chepauk

Strength Rahul Chahar's 6.19 economy at Chepauk is exceptional - significantly better than lead spinner Noor Ahmad's 8.32 economy. Tactical implication: Chahar should be prioritized over other spin options for home games, despite Noor's overall superiority.

Home XI Recommendation

For Chepauk, CSK should deploy a spin-heavy attack that maximizes Chahar's home advantage:

• Ruturaj Gaikwad - Opener (C)
• Sanju Samson - Opener (WK)
• Shivam Dube - Top Order
• Dewald Brevis - Power Hitter
• MS Dhoni - Finisher
• Prashant Veer - Spin All-rounder
• Rahul Chahar - Leg Spin (6.19 economy)
• Noor Ahmad - Lead Spinner
• Shreyas Gopal - Leg Spin
• Khaleel Ahmed - Powerplay Pace
• Anshul Kamboj - Pace

Overseas: Brevis, Noor (2/4 slots) - This leaves flexibility for impact player selection.

Strong Grounds

Why CSK excels at Jaipur: Sanju Samson's 824 runs at SMS Stadium gives CSK a massive advantage - this is his former home ground, and his familiarity shows. Additionally, Shreyas Gopal leads all bowlers with 15 wickets at Jaipur (from ground-jaipur-most-wickets-career leaderboard, #1). When playing at Jaipur, both Samson and Shreyas Gopal are must-picks.

Weak Grounds

Warning CSK bowlers average 10.56 economy at Wankhede - their worst among major IPL venues. Both primary pace options Khaleel Ahmed (10.02 economy) and Nathan Ellis (10.50 economy) struggle significantly. Tactical implication: For MI away games, consider starting Matt Henry instead of Khaleel, and prioritize batting first if the toss is won.

Favorable Matchups

vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Best Matchup)

SRH is CSK's most favorable opponent by a significant margin. All three top-order batters average 45+ against them, which is exceptional. Tactical implication: Against SRH, CSK should back their batters to dominate and set aggressive targets.

vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Strength The Chahar-Noor spin combination is devastating against KKR. Rahul Chahar has 15 wickets at an excellent 16.80 average, while Noor Ahmad's 6.00 economy is his best against any opponent. Both spinners must play in KKR fixtures regardless of venue.

vs Lucknow Super Giants

All three top-order batters average 47+ with strike rates above 159 against LSG. Noor Ahmad's 4.94 economy is his best against any opponent. This is a matchup to attack aggressively.

Challenging Matchups

vs Mumbai Indians (El Clásico)

Strength Mukesh Choudhary has an exceptional record against MI with 6 wickets at just 7.00 average and 6.00 economy. Despite limited sample size (2 matches), this record combined with his swing abilities makes him essential for MI fixtures.

vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Sanju Samson has scored 484 runs against RCB across 25 matches - valuable experience in high-pressure encounters. With Dube and Dhoni also excelling against RCB, Samson has strong partners to share the scoring burden. His competitive nature thrives in marquee matchups.

Strength Shreyas Gopal's 15 wickets at 12.53 average and 6.71 economy against RCB is the best record of any CSK bowler against any opponent. He absolutely must feature in the XI for all RCB fixtures, even if it means dropping a regular starter.

RCB Specialist XI

• Ruturaj Gaikwad - Opener (C)
• Sanju Samson - Opener (WK)
• Shivam Dube - Top Order (65.25 avg vs RCB)
• Dewald Brevis - Power Hitter
• MS Dhoni - Finisher (906 runs vs RCB)
• Prashant Veer - All-rounder
• Shreyas Gopal - Leg Spin (15 wkts @ 12.53)
• Noor Ahmad - Lead Spinner
• Nathan Ellis - Death Specialist
• Khaleel Ahmed - Powerplay Pace
• Anshul Kamboj - Pace

Overseas: Brevis, Noor, Ellis (3/4 slots)

This analysis draws from the dismissal category in 6-leaderboards.json and is critical for bowling strategy.

Caught Behind Specialists

Mukesh Choudhary's 23.5% caught behind rate is second only to Josh Hazlewood in the entire IPL (caught behind). This tells us he generates significant seam movement and beats the outside edge consistently. Use Mukesh with the new ball or in overcast/swing conditions. Set an aggressive slip cordon. He's ideal for powerplay breakthroughs against quality opposition.

LBW Specialists

Mukesh also ranks #5 in LBW percentage (lbw), indicating he brings the ball back into right-handers effectively. Combined with his caught behind rate, this makes him a complete swing bowler who attacks both edges. Prioritize Mukesh against right-handed heavy lineups where his inswing will be most effective.

Stumping Enablers

Strength Both Rahul Chahar (#3) and Shreyas Gopal (#5) rank in the top 5 for stumping-enabled dismissals (stumped). This means they consistently beat batters with flight, turn, or deception, creating stumping opportunities.

With MS Dhoni's legendary glovework behind the stumps, CSK has a unique tactical advantage. On turning tracks at Chepauk, the Dhoni-Chahar and Dhoni-Gopal combinations should yield extra dismissals that other teams can't replicate. This is why Chahar's home XI selection is so important - it's not just about his economy, but the dismissal opportunities he creates with Dhoni.

1. Openers

Candidates

Analysis

Ruturaj Gaikwad has established himself as one of the premier openers in the IPL. His 44.02 opening average in IPL 2025 ranks #4 among all openers (opening average), behind only Sai Sudharsan, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli. His career average of 40.35 ranks #5 all-time (batting average). At Chepauk, he averages an exceptional 50.93, making him the ideal anchor for home games. Sanju Samson brings explosive power with 3,781 top-order runs (#1 in IPL from top-order-runs-2025 leaderboard), 3 centuries (#1 from top-order-centuries-2025 leaderboard), and 22 fifties (#3 from top-order-fifties-2025 leaderboard). His 119 is the #3 highest score in top-order positions. A proven match-winner who has carried Rajasthan Royals for years, Samson now brings that X-factor to CSK.

Note: Samson's 5 matches at Chepauk were as a visiting player. As CSK's new home opener, expect him to build a strong relationship with this iconic venue - his talent and work ethic make adaptation highly likely.

Recommendation

Primary: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson form a dream opening pair - combining Ruturaj's anchor ability with Samson's explosive match-winning potential. With 4,704 career runs and #1 ranking in top-order runs, Samson is a franchise-defining acquisition.

Backup: Ayush Mhatre as the young backup option. Matthew Short provides overseas flexibility.

Tactical note: The Ruturaj-Samson partnership offers tactical flexibility. Ruturaj's ability to anchor allows Samson to play his natural attacking game from ball one.

2. Top Order (No. 3-4)

Candidates

Analysis

Shivam Dube is the clear choice for the power-hitting No. 4 role. His 160.96 strike rate in top-order positions ranks #5 in IPL 2025 (top order strikeRate). Against spin-heavy attacks, he's particularly effective. Dewald Brevis has no IPL stats but was signed at ₹2.2 Cr based on his "Baby AB" reputation from SA20 and domestic cricket. He offers 360-degree hitting and could be the X-factor at No. 3.

Recommendation

Primary No. 3: Dewald Brevis - High ceiling pick to provide aggression after powerplay. Primary No. 4: Shivam Dube - Proven IPL performer, spin basher.

Backup: Sarfaraz Khan for batting depth; MS Dhoni can float up if wickets fall early.

Tactical note: Against RCB specifically, Dube MUST bat at No. 4 given his 65.25 average.

3. Middle Order (No. 5-7)

Candidates

Analysis

MS Dhoni remains the ultimate finisher despite his age. His 3,416 middle-order runs are #1 in IPL history (middle order runs), with 18 middle-order fifties also #1 (middle order fifties). His 100 career not-outs are #1 by a margin of 42 over second-placed Jadeja (not out). His match-winner score of 15.8 ranks #3 in IPL (match winners). Jamie Overton offers explosive finishing power. His career strike rate of 214.29 is #1 in the entire IPL (strike). His power-hitting percentage of 14.29% is #3 all-time (power hitters).

Recommendation

Primary Finisher: MS Dhoni - irreplaceable experience and clutch ability. No. 5/6: Kartik Sharma - ₹14.2 Cr investment signals he should play despite no stats. No. 7 All-rounder: Prashant Veer - Jadeja replacement, left-arm spin utility. Impact Option: Jamie Overton when additional firepower is needed (214.29 SR).

Tactical note: Protect Dhoni until the 18th over when possible. His best work comes in the final 10-12 balls.

4. Powerplay Bowling (Overs 1-6)

Candidates

Analysis

Khaleel Ahmed is the primary powerplay bowler with 89 career wickets and left-arm variety. At Chepauk, he takes 14 wickets at 7.58 economy - his most reliable venue. His best opponent is PBKS with 17 wickets at 22.00 average. Warning Khaleel struggles at Wankhede (10.02 economy) and Arun Jaitley (11.12 economy). At these venues, rotate him out for Matt Henry. Mukesh Choudhary's dismissal patterns (23.5% caught behind #2, 11.8% LBW #5) make him an elite swing option when conditions suit. Against MI specifically, his 6 wickets at 7.00 average is exceptional.

Recommendation

Primary: Khaleel Ahmed - experienced left-armer with home ground success.

Rotation: Mukesh Choudhary for swing conditions and MI games. Overseas option: Matt Henry when Khaleel struggles (Wankhede, Delhi).

Tactical note: Save Noor Ahmad for overs 7+ unless the surface is extremely spin-friendly. Using spin in the powerplay is unconventional and should be matchup-dependent.

5. Middle Overs Bowling (Overs 7-15)

Candidates

Analysis

Noor Ahmad is the dominant middle-overs bowler. His 24 wickets rank #2 in IPL 2025 across all phases (wickets middle), with a 17.00 average ranking #4 (average middle). His pressure bowler index of 0.88 is #3 in the league (pressure bowlers). Rahul Chahar has the best economy in the squad at 7.72 (team economy career csk). His 12.0% stumping rate (#3 from stumped-specialists-career leaderboard) creates bonus dismissals with Dhoni. Shreyas Gopal gets 67.3% of his wickets against top-order batters (#2 in IPL from highest-percentage-vs-top-order-career leaderboard). This makes him a specialist for getting set batters out.

Recommendation

Primary: Noor Ahmad - elite wicket-taking ability across all phases.

Rotation: Rahul Chahar for home games (6.19 economy at Chepauk). Specialist: Shreyas Gopal for RCB games (15 wkts @ 12.53) and at Jaipur.

Rotation Strategy: - Home games: Noor + Chahar

• KKR games: Noor + Chahar (both excellent vs KKR)
• RCB games: Noor + Shreyas Gopal (must-play)
• Jaipur: Include Shreyas Gopal regardless of opponent

6. Death Overs Bowling (Overs 16-20)

Candidates

Analysis

Noor Ahmad's death overs numbers are exceptional for a spinner. His 24 death wickets rank #2 in IPL 2025 (wickets death), with his 17.00 average ranking #3 (average death). A spinner taking death wickets at this rate is rare and valuable. Strength Noor Ahmad took 24 wickets in the powerplay, middle overs, AND death overs in 2025 - all ranking #2 in the IPL. He's the most phase-agnostic bowler in the league and can be deployed anywhere. Nathan Ellis is a death specialist with yorker accuracy. His 4-wicket haul record and 8.67 career economy make him reliable at the end. Anshul Kamboj posted the best economy in CSK's squad in 2025 at 8.00 (team economy 2025 csk), with 8 wickets at 21.50 average. Against GT specifically, he has 3 wickets at 4.33 average - exceptional.

Recommendation

Primary: Noor Ahmad (overs 17-18) + Nathan Ellis (overs 19-20)

Backup: Anshul Kamboj (best 2025 economy, excellent vs GT)

Tactical note: Use Noor in over 17 or 18 when batters are looking to attack spin. Use Ellis for overs 19-20 where yorkers are essential.

Primary XI

• Ruturaj Gaikwad - Opener (C)
• Sanju Samson - Opener (WK)
• Dewald Brevis - Top Order
• Shivam Dube - Power Hitter
• Kartik Sharma - Middle Order
• MS Dhoni - Finisher
• Prashant Veer - Spin All-rounder
• Noor Ahmad - Lead Spinner
• Nathan Ellis - Death Specialist
• Khaleel Ahmed - Powerplay Pace
• Anshul Kamboj - Pace All-rounder

Overseas: Brevis, Noor, Ellis (3/4 slots)

Batting depth extends to #8 with Prashant Veer. Three-pronged pace attack with variety (left-arm Khaleel, yorker specialist Ellis, seam all-rounder Kamboj).

Home XI (Chepauk)

• Ruturaj Gaikwad - Opener (C)
• Sanju Samson - Opener (WK)
• Shivam Dube - Top Order
• Dewald Brevis - Power Hitter
• MS Dhoni - Finisher
• Prashant Veer - Spin All-rounder
• Rahul Chahar - Leg Spin (6.19 home economy)
• Noor Ahmad - Lead Spinner
• Shreyas Gopal - Leg Spin
• Khaleel Ahmed - Powerplay Pace
• Anshul Kamboj - Pace

Overseas: Brevis, Noor (2/4 slots)

Triple spin attack maximizes Chepauk conditions. Only 2 overseas slots used, leaving flexibility for impact player.

MI Rivalry XI

• Ruturaj Gaikwad - Opener (C)
• Sanju Samson - Opener (WK)
• Shivam Dube - Top Order
• Dewald Brevis - Power Hitter
• MS Dhoni - Finisher
• Prashant Veer - All-rounder
• Noor Ahmad - Lead Spinner
• Mukesh Choudhary - Swing (6 wkts @ 7.00 vs MI)
• Nathan Ellis - Death Specialist
• Khaleel Ahmed - Powerplay Pace
• Matt Henry - New Ball Pace

Overseas: Brevis, Noor, Ellis, Henry (4/4 slots)

Mukesh Choudhary's exceptional MI record (6 wkts @ 7.00) makes him essential. Matt Henry adds pace depth for Wankhede's flat deck.

Key Strengths

• Sanju Samson's 3,781 top-order runs are #1 in IPL history - the most prolific top-order batter in the league. His trade from RR adds proven match-winning ability to an already strong top order.

• Noor Ahmad's 24 wickets across all phases (powerplay, middle, death) makes him the most versatile bowler in IPL 2025, ranking #2 in each phase. His ₹10 Cr price reflects his value.

• MS Dhoni's 3,416 middle-order runs and 100 not-outs are both #1 in IPL history - the definitive finisher whose experience cannot be replaced.

• Rahul Chahar (12%) and Shreyas Gopal (11.5%) both rank top 5 for stumping-enabled dismissals. With Dhoni's legendary glovework, CSK has a unique spinner-keeper synergy that creates extra dismissals.

• Mukesh Choudhary's 23.5% caught behind rate (#2 in IPL) makes him an elite swing option for new-ball breakthroughs - a hidden weapon for specific matchups.

• Jamie Overton's 214.29 career strike rate is #1 in the entire IPL - nuclear finishing option that can change games in the final overs.

Key Concerns

• Sanju Samson's Chepauk experience is limited to just 5 matches as a visiting player. While his record there is modest, this represents an opportunity rather than a concern - a player of his caliber and adaptability will be eager to make this iconic venue his own.

• Kartik Sharma (₹14.2 Cr), Prashant Veer (₹14.2 Cr), and Dewald Brevis (₹2.2 Cr) have zero IPL matches combined. The middle order relies heavily on untested players, representing a significant risk.

• CSK bowlers average 10.56 economy at Wankhede - worst among major venues. Both Khaleel (10.02) and Ellis (10.50) struggle on flat Mumbai decks. MI away games require tactical adjustments.

• With 8 overseas players, CSK can only field 4. This creates difficult selection dilemmas - cannot play Matt Henry AND Akeal Hosein alongside Brevis, Noor, and Ellis simultaneously.

• Jadeja's departure leaves a massive hole in the all-rounder department. Prashant Veer carries ₹14.2 Cr of expectations to fill that role - a significant gamble.

Opponent-Specific Tactics

Venue-Specific Adjustments