CSK Spends ₹41 Crore in IPL 2026 Auction, But 5 Players May Never See the Playing XI

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) went big in the IPL 2026 auction, spending ₹41 crore to acquire nine new players, making them one of the highest spenders. However, despite these additions, five players may struggle to secure a spot in the playing XI this season.

Big Buys

CSK invested heavily in uncapped players Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, paying ₹14.2 crore each. Other additions include Rahul Chahar, Matt Henry, Akil Hussain, Matthew Short, Jack Foulkes, Sarfaraz Khan, and Aman Khan.

Players Likely to Miss Out

• Rahul Chahar: Bought for ₹5.2 crore, the leg-spinner may struggle for game time as CSK already has superb spinners like Noor Ahmad and Shreyas Gopal.
• Aman Khan: Primarily a finisher, he faces tough competition from MS Dhoni, Prashant Veer, and Kartik Sharma.
• Sarfaraz Khan: With CSK’s top order settled, including Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Ayush Mehta, and Urvil Patel, Sarfaraz may find it hard to break into the XI.
• Matthew Short: Only four overseas players can play in the XI. With Noor Ahmad, Dewald Brevis, and Nathan Ellis likely starters, Short may be sidelined.
• Jack Foulkes: The young New Zealand fast bowler, despite his T20 credentials, may struggle to get a game behind experienced foreign bowlers like Matt Henry and Nathan Ellis.

Competition is Fierce

CSK’s well-balanced squad and restrictions on foreign players mean some big buys may remain on the bench, highlighting the challenge of breaking into a strong, settled team despite high auction prices.