CSK IPL 2026 Squad: Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the most successful franchise in IPL history with five titles, are aiming to conjugate a strong squad ahead of the IPL 2026 season.
Their 2025 season marked a rare low point for the Yellow Army, as they struggled with form, injuries, and transitions, finishing at the bottom of the points table with multiple losses piling up. As the IPL 2026 auction arrives, they have their work cut out in Abu Dhabi.

Despite flashes of brilliance in isolated games, including a record-breaking win over Gujarat Titans, CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs, ending on a disappointing note and signalling the need for a rebuild in the post-Dhoni captaincy era.
Ruturaj Gaikwad led the side valiantly, but the team lacked the usual depth, with aging stars and inconsistent performances hampering progress. The season highlighted the challenges of transitioning while maintaining the CSK ethos of nurturing talent.
Looking ahead to the IPL 2026 mini-auction, CSK have made bold decisions, releasing several high-profile players like Ravindra Jadeja to refresh the squad and inject youth. The Super Kings also brought in Sanju Samson via trade from the Rajasthan Royals.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, MS Dhoni, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Sanju Samson (Trade)
The Chennai Super Kings have a purse of Rs 43.4 crore and they have 9 slots to fill in the auction, four of which are foreign players.
CSK's buys of Akeal Hosein (Rs 2 crore), Prashant Veer (Rs 14.20 crore), Kartik Sharma (Rs 14.20 crore), Matthew Short (Rs 1.50 crore) and Aman Khan (Rs 40 lakh) collectively point to a clear strategy of blending high-upside uncapped Indian talent with flexible overseas options to refresh the core of the side. Akeal Hosein, a left-arm spinner with an excellent recent T20 economy and powerplay/new-ball skills, is a value overseas buy who can control the middle overs and chip in with lower-order runs, making him a horses-for-courses option in spin-friendly venues.
Prashant Veer, the 20-year-old left-handed batting all-rounder and left-arm orthodox bowler who has shone in UP T20 and white-ball tournaments, commands a massive fee because CSK see him as a long-term middle-order and spin-bowling pillar in the Yuvraj-style mold, hence the aggressive bidding to Rs 14.20 crore. Kartik Sharma, a 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan, also fetching Rs 14.20 crore, reflects CSK's push to secure a dynamic young keeper who can finish innings and evolve into a central batting option, which explains him becoming one of the most expensive uncapped players ever.
Matthew Short at Rs 1.50 crore is a classic low-risk, high-reward overseas signing: an attacking top-order right-hander and handy off-spinner whose Big Bash performances suggest he can slot into multiple roles without straining the purse. Aman Khan at Rs 40 lakh is a budget all-round option, a domestic seam-bowling hitter who strengthens depth and provides flexibility at the back end of the innings.
Akeal Hosein - Rs 2 crore
Prashant Veer - Rs 14.20 crore
Kartik Sharma - Rs 14.20 crore
Matthew Short - Rs 1.50 crore
Aman Khan - Rs 40 lakh
Sarfaraz Khan - Rs 75 lakh
Matt Henry - Rs 2 crore
Rahul Chahar - Rs 5.20 crore
Zak Foulkes - Rs 75 lakh
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, MS Dhoni, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Sanju Samson, Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes
*The List will be updated accordingly