Just like a few other teams in IPL 2026, CSK is suffering big time due to injuries. First, Aussie pacer did not join the squad due to a hamstring injury, then it was MS Dhoni who got injured during training, and not pacer Khaleel Ahmed has been ruled out of the tournament. But as per unconfirmed reports, former MI bowler Akash Madhwal has been spotted in CSK nets, and is considered a frontrunner to replace Khaleel.
Madhwal was with RR until last year, but was released by the team before the auction. Before that he had spent two years with MI, where he played 13 matches and bagged 19 wickets. As per Cricbuzz, there were other bowlers present for the trials as well, but it is still not clear, who?
Meanwhile, a decision could soon be made and revealed, on the same. Also, it is very likely that if Madhwal is roped in, he could very well be part of playing XI, straightaway. Many are also expecting MS Dhoni to be match-ready by next week, but of course the decision-making powers lie with the veteran himself. “He is still doing his rehab and we don’t want to take any chances with his fitness,” CSK sources told the Times of India.
So far, it has been a forgetful campaign for CSK, where they have won only two out of 5. They are in 8th spot currently, and would be looking to improve their show from the last couple of seasons, where they failed to make the playoffs.
CSK full squad IPL 2026
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson, MS Dhoni, Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Sarfaraz Khan, Noor Ahmad, Akeal Hosein, Gurjapneet Singh, Matt Henry, Jamie Overton, Matt Short, Urvil Patel, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Ramkrishna Ghosh, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson, and Mukesh Choudhary
Cricket
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