Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has revealed that Chennai Super Kings’ top six batters are the team’s strength for the upcoming IPL 2026. Chopra highlighted that CSK opener Ayush Mhatre is at his best when he plays at the senior level.
Mhatre led the India Under-19 team to World Cup glory, but he could only manage 214 runs in seven matches at an average of 30.57 and a strike rate of 113.22. Meanwhile, the youngster scored 240 runs in seven matches at an average of 34.29 and a blistering strike rate of 188.97 while opening the innings in IPL 2025 and he was one of the positives for CSK in what was a dismal season for the franchise.
Furthermore, in-form Sanju Samson is expected to open the innings for the five-time champions after he was traded in from the Rajasthan Royals.
“They still have firepower in the top five or six. Ayush Mhatre may or may not have form elsewhere, but the form comes as soon as he reaches senior cricket. You will find Ayush Mhatre there and Sanju Samson, who is the toast of the town, with him. The way he is batting, you want him to continue his form, and you want Chetta to become the Chennai Super Kings’ new super king and score a lot of runs,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is expected to bat at one drop and Chopra said the Men in Yellow have a decent batting unit.
‘Ruturaj Gaikwad will have to come at No. 3. He also has the batting might. He can take the responsibility. He can also be the pivot. Then Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer and MS Dhoni, this is the kind of batting setup I see. So there is depth in batting. There is no doubt about that,” he observed.
The renowned commentator said CSK has decent fast bowling resources for the upcoming tournament.
“They have decent fast-bowling resources, although they have been disadvantaged due to Nathan Ellis’ absence. If Nathan Ellis had been there, this would have looked an excellent team, but you will still find Khaleel Ahmed, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj and Mukesh Choudhary, and I am hearing they might sign Spencer Johnson,” he said.
“This team has always had fast-bowling options, and they will have them now as well. This team also has Jamie Overton, who is quite a decent all-rounder. You can look to play him as well. They have got plenty of all-rounders and depth in fast bowling,” Chopra observed.
CSK will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against the inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals, at Guwahati on 30th March.
