Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been dealt a significant blow with the news that their legendary player MS Dhoni will miss the first two weeks of the IPL 2026 season due to a calf strain. Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation, and it is expected that he will be sidelined for the early stages of the tournament.
In light of Dhoni’s absence, former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, who has represented CSK in the past, picked his strongest playing XI with Impact Player options for the five-time champions. Ashwin named Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper-batter and also included him as an opener alongside captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Ashwin's Strong XI for CSK
The lineup includes attacking batters like Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, and Shivam Dube, with Sarfaraz Khan or Ayush Mhatre expected to fill the No. 6 spot. In the bowling department, Ashwin has selected Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad as main spinners. For pace, he opted for Matt Henry and Khaleel Ahmed.
Impact Player Options
Ashwin provided several impactful choices, including Anshul Kamboj, Shreyas Gopal, Ramakrishna Ghosh, and Rahul Chahar, who will add further depth to the squad.
CSK’s IPL 2026 Campaign
CSK will kickstart their IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 at Baraspara Stadium in Guwahati. This clash marks the beginning of the 19th edition of the tournament, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the curtain-raiser at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
