The Chennai Super Kings finished IPL 2026 eighth on the points table, with 12 points from 14 games coming from six wins.
The five-time champions had a tumultuous
season, but despite their struggles, were able to stay in the hunt for the playoffs till their final game of the season. They were severely impacted by injuries and had to often make alterations to their team before they found a settled combination. With a significant roster of talented players and multiple players getting game time, we look at players who could have gotten a longer run of games with the team.
Here are 3 players who were underutilised by CSK in IPL 2026:
3. Urvil Patel
Wicketkeeper-batter Urvil Patel has built a reputation in the domestic game of being a brutal hitter, capable of scoring big runs and taking down bowling attacks with big sixes. While he was relegated to a bench role, the Gujarat man was able to get an extended run in the team with the injury to Ayush Mhatre.
He hit the ground running in the season, scoring 129 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 201.56. He scored his first half-century of IPL with a score of 65. That knock showed him reach his 50 in just 13 balls, the joint-fastest in the history of the competition. With the maverick innings, he showed he has the game to take on the best of bowlers, but the question remains on how much he could have contributed had he been given an extended run with the team.
2. Akeal Hosein
Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein was signed by the Super Kings in the 2026 Auction, and given his T20 circuit expertise, was expected to slot into the team with ease. The West Indies man has evolved into a reliable spinner, capable of keeping batters at bay even in the powerplay. He boasts a sizeable 262 wickets in the format, a testament to his experience as a bowler.
For the Super Kings, Hosein was able to manage just seven matches, picking up eight wickets and was largely relegated to being used as a match-up bowler. Despite this, he put on a show at the Wankhede Stadium when he dismantled rivals Mumbai Indians with figures of 4 for 17. With the Super Kings' attack lacking experience, Hosein, with a consistent run, would have added the required pedigree to the bowling attack.
1. Prashant Veer
It was a significant moment in the 2026 Auction when the Super Kings took the punt on a young uncapped player in Prashant Veer, signing him for a whopping INR 14.2 crore. With the departure of Ravindra Jadeja to the Rajasthan Royals in a trade which saw Sanju Samson head the other way, the need for a left-arm spinner who could add vital lower-order runs was imminent. This saw the five-time champions spend big on a young player based on potential, someone they can build on for the future.
In the six matches he played, Veer was just able to manage 90 runs with the bat at a strike rate of 134.33. He was used as a lower-order hitter, coming in to add runs in the back end. Despite bowling being his predominant skill, he was given just two overs of bowling and was unable to pick up any wickets. While Veer is touted as a player for the future, his role and appearances in IPL 2026 leave the question of whether such a big-money acquisition could have been managed better.
