The Chennai Super Kings have had a below average season in this edition of the IPL and they will already be thinking about the next season. They have undoubtedly done a good job to still stay in the playoff
race after losing their first three games on the trot. The biggest problem they have faced would be the injury crisis. Some of their major talents such as Ayush Mhatre, Khaleel Ahmed and Jamie Overton have been unavailable in the most important phases of the tournament. But other than that, their players across all departments haven't been consistent with their performances and they have lacked composure as well.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and his men have put up some dominant performances in the tournament but they would feel like they lack the collective effort. Most of their wins have come from some sensational batting displays by Sanju Samson and their batting unit has been rather inconsistent. Their young talent seemed to have flicked the switch in the latter half of the tournament with Kartik Sharma and Urvil Patel playing some fine knocks. However with the mega auction set to take place in the next season, we could see some big names departing the CSK setup.
13 games down, 1 to go for the top tier. The IPL 2026 points table is pure madness right now! 📊👀 Which team will join rcb, gt and Srh in the playoffs [ Rcb, gujarat Titans, srh, Rajasthan Royals, punjab kings, pbks, chennai super kings, Csk, delhi capitals, kkr,ipl, playoffs] pic.twitter.com/z3mIayDWCp
— SportsTiger (@The_SportsTiger) May 19, 2026
5)Mukesh Choudhary
The Indian pacer hasn't been at his absolute best in this season and he has been expensive as well. Mukesh Choudhary did have to go through some tough times with the loss of his mother but that didn't stop him from playing for CSK. He hasn't been able to provide support for Anshul Kamboj in the pace unit and we could see him depart for the next season. Mukesh Choudhary was instrumental in his first season with the side but gradually his form has dipped and CSK will most probably think beyond him.
4)Khaleel Ahmed
Khaleel Ahmed has been a key bowler in the CSK bowling unit over the past couple of seasons but his future at the club would be uncertain. He was ruled out of the IPL 2026 season due to injury but his form prior to that was questionable as well. Khaleel Ahmed picked up just 2 wickets from 5 games and his economy wasn’t great as well. There could be a potential change in colours for the pacer in the IPL 2027 season.
3)Dewald Brevis
Dewald Brevis played a crucial role in CSK’s resurgence in the previous season, but in this season he hasn’t been at his best. He was looked at with hope by the CSK fans as he provided the much needed stability and flexibility in the squad with his wide range of shots. He is yet to make a mark in this season and he hasn’t scored a half-century so far. But with the limited number of retention spots, it would be a difficult decision for the management to make but the possibility of releasing the player cannot be ruled out.
2)Shivam Dube
The Indian powerhouse has been one of the stalwarts in the Indian batting unit and for CSK as well over the years. They have kept Shivam Dube as an integral member of their Indian core but his form for the franchise has been disappointing. Shivam Dube has been subject to a lot of criticism for his slow strike-rate and his dip in finishing abilities. This would be a very tough call to make but only time will tell if CSK will back their six-hitting machine.
Shivam Dube!! pic.twitter.com/hwWWowih0w
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) May 18, 2026
1)Prashant Veer
The young Indian domestic talent was acquired for a record-breaking bid at the IPL 2026 auction but he hasn’t justified his heavy price tag yet. His peer, Kartik Sharma has played a couple of fine knocks but Prashant hasn’t been able to contain the pressure of the big stage. They were looked at as options to shape the future of the franchise but they could release Prashant Veer and probably look to take him back for a lower price.
