Kris Srikkanth Wants CSK To Sign 34-Year-Old NZ All-Rounder: 'Everyone Is Underestimating Him...'

Former India batter and captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth wants Chennai Super Kings to sign star New Zealand spin bowling all-rounder Michael Bracewell in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction. Five-time IPL champions CSK will enter the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (December 16) with a purse of Rs 43.40 crore. They can sign as many as nine players and have four overseas slot to fill.

According to Srikkanth, Bracewell, who has previously played in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is a good finisher who bowls good off-spin and can contribute with the bat as well.

“CSK already have a gun lineup till 4 with Gaikwad, Samson, Aayush Mhatre, and Urvil Patel. So they won’t be too worried about their batting. If I were in the CSK management,

I would go for a guy like Michael Bracewell. Everyone is underestimating him. He has scored a brilliant century against India in Hyderabad. He can bowl good off-spin and is a left-hander who can tonk the ball. He is a good finisher,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

“Not many are talking about Michael Bracewell. Everyone keeps saying Livingstone, but the truth is, if Bracewell is encouraged, he’ll do well. It is where someone like Dhoni can groom him into a fantastic all-rounder,” Srikkanth added.

Bracewell has played a 203 T20 matches so far and has 3455 runs to his credit in addition to taking 96 wickets in 105 innings. In the IPL he has played five matches for RCB in the 2023 season and scored 58 runs in addition to dismissing six batters.

He also suggested the Chennai-based franchise avoid signing Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi and South African middle-order batter David Miller.

“I’ll definitely not buy Ravi Bishnoi. With him, there is no scope. They already have Shreyas Gopal. He’s a good bowler. Also, it’s been ages since David Miller scored. And playing on the Chennai surface for half the matches, it’ll not suit him. Instead of Miller, I’d rather pick Bracewell, who’ll also give a few overs with the ball,” Srikkanth suggested.

Srikkanth feels CSK should try and sign both Bracewell and England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, and he also has predicted that young Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly will play for CSK in IPL 2026.

“I’ll try to pick both [Liam] Livingstone and Bracewell. You’ll get both within 10 crores. That will solve the spot below Dube. CSK definitely need an all-rounder to fill the Jadeja hole, which semi all-rounders like Livingstone and Bracewell will fill. I’ll also surely try to get someone like Cooper Connolly. He’s a youngster and an all-format player who’s also a left-hander. He’ll surely go to CSK this time, as they can buy him for just 2 or 3 crores,” said Srikkanth.