IPL 2026 Strongest Playing 11 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Ruturaj Gaikwad back to lead in our strongest possible playing 11 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
It’s been an unforgettable tournament for the Men in Yellow, Chennai Super Kings as they not only failed to qualify for the IPL 2025 Playoffs, but also finished at the bottom of the points table with just 3 wins from 13 games. The team that rarely makes changes in their playing 11 saw the use of more than 20 players in their playing 11, and never did they have a settled batting order either.
But what went wrong for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025, and what corrections should they do, or have they done so far to make IPL 2026 a successful affair? Well, the most important thing that went wrong for CSK was trusting the out-of-form players like Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Devon Conway, Vijay Shankar, etc., and asking them to deliver exceptional performance. The strategy in general worked for CSK in previous years, but backfired big time this year.
What Went Wrong for CSK in IPL 2025?
It’s not that the strategy was wrong, but it just felt outdated as none of the selected experienced players could adapt to the newer needs of T20 cricket. But CSK were smart enough to understand this, and they have already rectified some of the mistakes by adding intent players like Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, and Urvil Patel. With these players getting added, CSK have already taken a positive step in their preparation for IPL 2026.
The Chennai Super Kings were also devoid of their star player and Captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad as he was unfortunately ruled out of IPL 2025 due to injury. But once Ruturaj Gaikwad is back on the side, and by filling some gaps in the IPL 2026 Mini Auction, CSK may look like a formidable side. But before we get to next year, how about we take a look at the strongest playing 11 for Chennai Super Kings based on their current squad for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026?
Strongest Playing 11 Analyzed
If we start with the best openers for Chennai Super Kings , the team will have a solid duo of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre. Ruturaj was missed big time in this IPL, but it was a blessing in disguise for the CSK team as they found a gem in the form of Ayush Mhatre. With CSK’s other openers like Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway struggling for runs, Ayush has not only lived up to the expectations, but exceeded them. It will be great to see the opening duo of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mahtre in 2026.
Coming to the middle-order, CSK currently have Sam Curran as the best-suited option for number 3, a floater in the form of an impact player if CSK lose two quick wickets, or Ravindra Jadeja if he comes to bat after the powerplay. Jadeja, as we know, doesn’t have the capability to play as a finisher, and hence is best-suited as a middle-order batter currently. He has also proven his worth at his position after getting promoted. Sam before the India vs Pakistan war showed he can be a good number 3 position player, and CSK may persist with him for this position.
Coming to the finishers, CSK have three solid players in the form of Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, and MS Dhoni. While Dhoni is more of a filler, the team will need a strong finisher to complement Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube. Both Brevis and Dube have done well as finishers, and that is also their new role. But aside from Dhoni, they need a solid Overseas finisher, or an Indian finisher to make CSK’s finishing stronger. That player will also be their impact player, and CSK will have to hire that player from the Auction.
IPL 2026 Strongest Playing 11 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
- Ayush Mhatre
- Sam Curran
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Dewald Brevis
- Shivam Dube
- MS Dhoni (wk)
- Noor Ahmad
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Matheesha Pathirana
- Anshul Kamboj
Finally, talking about the best bowling lineup for CSK, it should remain unchanged from the one that we saw in IPL 2025. If there was one area where CSK did well this season, it is the bowling lineup. Barring Pathirana and Jadeja, who have looked below-average this season, CSK have seen some good bowling performances from the likes of Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, and Anshul Kamboj. If Jadeja and Pathirana can bring back their old form, CSK already have a solid bowling lineup in place to tackle the IPL 2026 challenges.
So, that’s about the strongest playing 11 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for IPL 2025. Overall, the team as of today has at least 8-9 sure playing 11 members that will see retention for sure. The team currently has major issues in their finishing abilities, and for that, they would need either an Overseas finisher, or an Indian finisher. If CSK are able to address this issue, they should be able to bounce back strongly in 2026.
Thanks for reading! What’s your take on the strongest playing 11 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for IPL 2026? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com
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