New Delhi, March 28: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star Mahendra Singh Dhoni will miss the first two weeks of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 due to injury. In his absence, former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has selected a formidable playing XI for the five-time champions, including options for an ‘impact player.’
The IPL 2026 season kicks off this Saturday, with CSK starting their campaign on March 30. The franchise has announced that Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf muscle strain, which is expected to keep him sidelined for the initial weeks of the tournament.
Ashwin has chosen Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper, who will open the innings alongside captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. The former CSK player has placed three aggressive batsmen in the next three spots: Urvil Patel at number 3, Dewald Brevis at number 4, and Shivam Dube, an all-rounder for India in the T20 World Cup 2026, at number 5.
For the number 6 position, Ashwin has two options: his first choice is Sarfaraz Khan, while the second is Ayush Mhatre, the captain of India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning team. Ignoring Prashant Veer, Ashwin has opted for Kartik Sharma at number 7.
In the bowling department, Ashwin has selected Akil Hussain and Noor Ahmad as the main spinners. Hussain is also capable of contributing with the bat at number 8. For the pace attack, he has chosen Matt Henry and Khaleel Ahmed. Ashwin has suggested four options for the ‘impact player,’ including Anshul Kamboj, Shreyas Gopal, Ramakrishna Ghosh, and Rahul Chahar.
Ashwin’s CSK Playing XI:
Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Sarfaraz Khan/Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Akil Hussain, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed.
Impact Player: Anshul Kamboj/Shreyas Gopal/Ramakrishna Ghosh/Rahul Chahar.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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