Game-Changer: A Tactical Rebuilding For IPL 2026?
When you hear of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), you think of steadfastness, persistence, and that never-give-up attitude. But 2025 is a vintage off-year for the five-time champions. For the first time, CSK are out of playoff contention for two entire seasons and, ultimately, crashed out after 10 league games. But if you know anything about Mahendra Singh Dhoni and CSK, you know they are planning for a comeback – and that they may already be one step ahead of the game for IPL 2026.
New Players, New Energy – The Next Generation of CSK
CSK did not wait to make their moves, bringing in three prospective replacements to fill the gaps for injured players. And this is not any regular replacement – this is game-changing potential!
Ayush Mhatre: Replacing the talented Ruturaj Gaikwad, the young gun Mhatre has already become news as the youngest debutant and half-centurion in CSK’s history. What a way to make a statement!
Dewald Brevis: Also known as ‘Baby AB’ for his 360-degree hitting, Dewald Brevis already brought excitement to the fans turning in poison for Gurjapneet Singh as a replacement. Brevis is fearless and has the stroke power to keep the fans engaged.
Urvil Patel: Urvil Patel is set to debut against Kolkata Knight Riders and has taken the spot for Vansh Bedi for having the second-fastest century in T20’s cricket; Patel may be the X-factor for CSK.
Retaining Players – Who Stays and Who Goes?
With the IPL 2026 auction right around the corner, CSK also now has to deal with, or perhaps relish in, the problem of retaining the players. CSK can retain all six of the injured players (including Mhatre, Brevis, and Patel) and all of those signing bonuses but it is a budget concern as well as creating a successful culture and squad.
Players such as Rahul Tripathi (3.40 cr), Deepak Hooda (1.70 cr), and Vijay Shankar (1.20 cr) have likely lost their spot to the young guns and may be sweeped up in the release pile creating an opportunity for CSK for three imports and more importantly, freeing up 6.30 crore for the auction purse.
And there’s more. If CSK wants to generate more excitement in the IPL 2026 auction, they could bid farewell to players like Ravichandran Ashwin (9.75 cr), Devon Conway (6.25 cr), and Rachin Ravindra (4 cr) for an added total of 20 crore auction budget.
Experience – Lessons Learnt for IPL 2026
CSK has been in this situation before. In the 2018 IPL season Kedar Jadhav went down in the very first game. CSK had brought in England’s David Willey as a replacement and retained him and Jadhav with the 2019 auction. It was all part of the sequence to develop players and create depth of players or options – and it looks like this Time shows the application.
The Dhoni Factor – Testing the Water
Furthermore, MS Dhoni is not simply a captain of the ship, he is also the strategist. Since the playoffs are beyond CSK reach this year, he is using the rest of the games as a testing ground. It is not for pride, but rather for the selectors to find a suitable combination of players and a rhythm for 2026.
