Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has shed light on Chennai Super Kings’ challenges ahead of IPL 2026. Chopra reckons the five-time champions path to the playoffs won’t be straight-forward. CSK ended the previous season as the cellar-dwellers of the tournament, managing only four wins in 14 matches.
Meanwhile, CSK traded in Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals, in exchange for Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja. Furthermore, they roped in uncapped players like Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, for INR 14.20 crore apiece.
Chopra reckons death-bowling is going to be a concern for Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team since Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of the tournament.
“They have quite a few challenges. It seems like their path won’t be that straightforward this year. One big challenge is that since Nathan Ellis isn’t there, who will bowl at the death? Will you get Noor Ahmad to bowl? Will they give a new role to Khaleel Ahmed? Is Matt Henry that death bowler? Can Jamie Overton be bowled there?” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Furthermore, CSK had earlier decided to release Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, which has left their death bowling toothless.
“Death-bowling resources are not that great, and this thing will come to the fore. When they released Matheesha Pathirana, they thought Nathan Ellis would do that job always, but neither Nathan Ellis nor Pathirana is there now. It is challenge No. 1,” he observed.
The cricket analyst also questioned how much CSK will utilise veteran batter MS Dhoni in the lower-middle order.
“A second challenge I am seeing is that a lower-middle-order problem could come to the fore. The top five or six are fine in the batting order, but Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, and how much will they use MS Dhoni? That could be a problem area, although you try to manage. You don’t need it if your top five fire, but problems could come at No. 6 and No. 7. A potential problem,” he said.
The former KKR batter believes CSK can also have spin bowling issues in the upcoming season.
“I have an issue with spin bowling. They will be over-reliant on Noor Ahmad, but who with him? Rahul Chahar’s current form is not good. Shreyas Gopal is part of this team, but doesn’t play much. They have Akeal Hosein, but will you be able to play him?” Chopra elaborated.
CSK will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against the inaugural champions, Rajasthan Royals, at Guwahati on 30th March.
