Chennai Super Kings completely changed their approach this year at the auction. The franchise made bold moves by releasing stars and buying young talent. Their CSK Squad for IPL 2026 looks dramatically different from previous seasons. Fans witnessed history being made with record-breaking signings throughout the day.
Record-Breaking Young Signings
Prashant Veer became the joint-most expensive uncapped player at ₹14.20 crore remarkably. Kartik Sharma matched that exact price to share the historic record. Both youngsters bring explosive abilities that the Super Kings desperately needed in 2026. The CSK squad 2026 now features these two massive investments prominently.
Rahul Chahar joined for ₹5.2 crore to strengthen their spin department. Matt Henry signed for ₹2 crore as their overseas pace option. Akeal Hosein came in at ₹2 crore base price too. Matthew Short cost them ₹1.5 crore for the batting flexibility needed. Sarfaraz Khan got picked up cheaply at just ₹75 lakh surprisingly.
Shocking Exits and Big Trade
Ravindra Jadeja sadly left Chennai Super Kings after years of legendary service. The all-rounder got traded to the Rajasthan Royals along with Sam Curran. That double departure shocked everyone following IPL news closely this year. Matheesha Pathirana and Devon Conway also exited the players list completely.
These releases freed up ₹13 crore for CSK to spend elsewhere. The biggest move saw Sanju Samson join for ₹18 crore through trade. He brings wicketkeeping skills and captaincy experience to the squad now.
CSK Squad for IPL 2026
| S. No. | Player Name | Acquisition Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruturaj Gaikwad (c) | Retained |
| 2 | Ayush Mhatre | Retained |
| 3 | M.S. Dhoni | Retained |
| 4 | Sanju Samson | Retained (Traded from RR) |
| 5 | Dewald Brevis | Retained |
| 6 | Urvil Patel | Retained |
| 7 | Shivam Dube | Retained |
| 8 | Jamie Overton | Retained |
| 9 | Ramakrishna Ghosh | Retained |
| 10 | Noor Ahmad | Retained |
| 11 | Khaleel Ahmed | Retained |
| 12 | Anshul Kamboj | Retained |
| 13 | Gurjapneet Singh | Retained |
| 14 | Shreyas Gopal | Retained |
| 15 | Mukesh Choudhary | Retained |
| 16 | Nathan Ellis | Retained |
| 17 | Akeal Hosein | Auction |
| 18 | Prashant Veer | Auction |
| 19 | Kartik Sharma | Auction |
| 20 | Matthew Short | Auction |
| 21 | Aman Khan | Auction |
| 22 | Sarfaraz Khan | Auction |
| 23 | Matt Henry | Auction |
| 24 | Rahul Chahar | Auction |
| 25 | Zak Foulkes | Auction |
Familiar Faces Stay Put
Ruturaj Gaikwad continues as captain for another IPL season ahead confidently. MS Dhoni remains with Chennai Super Kings in his mentor and finisher role. These two provide stability during this massive transition period.
The CSK squad 2026 represents fresh beginnings mixed with proven leadership thankfully. The players list shows their strategy of backing youth heavily. Chennai Super Kings gambled big on uncapped talent for long-term success here.
