CSK target GT and MI star as Khaleel Ahmed’s replacement during IPL 2026

Even though injuries are part and parcel of the game, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been affected the most by the number of players going down during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. They started the event with their specialist death bowler, Nathan Ellis, being out of the competition with an injury.

Chennai’s former captain, MS Dhoni, is yet to play a single clash of the season as he recovers from a knee injury. Meanwhile, they also lost Dewald Brevis for the first few games of the competition. But at the moment, they are mostly concerned about the current injuries of Khaleel Ahmed and Ayush Mhatre.

CSK eyes Akash Madhwal as Khaleel Ahmed’s replacement in IPL 2026

Even though Mhatre could return to the competition after healing his hamstring injury a couple of weeks later, the question has been on Khaleel’s replacement. The left-arm pacer has also been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. He provided some vital overs with the new ball inside the power play to the yellow franchise.

In Khaleel’s absence, the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side needs a pacer who can provide them with overs in all three phases of the game. As per the report, the former Mumbai Indians’ bowler, Akash Madhwal, went through the trials in Hyderabad when the franchise featured in the game against the Sunrisers.

The Uttarakhand pacer has 23 wickets in the IPL at an economy rate of 10.05. But his season came in 2023 when he picked up 14 wickets in just eight innings at an average of 15.64 and a strike rate of 10.90 with an economy rate of 8.58, at the best bowling figures of 5/5, which came in Chennai.

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Apart from this, the five-time champions have also called Rajvardhan Hangargekar in the trial, which will take place in Mumbai ahead of their next fixture against the Mumbai Indians on April 23 at the Wankhede Stadium. The reports have also stated that Arzan Nagwaswalla, the former Gujarat Titans bowler, is also on their shortlist.

CSK hopes for better middle-order batting in remainder of IPL 2026  

The 2023 champions had the chance to get three successive wins after a poor start of a hat-trick of defeats in the tournament. But a poor batting show in the middle order, with some lack of game plan, cost them the encounter against the Sunrisers a couple of evenings ago.

They have found themselves in the seventh position of the points table with two victories in six clashes at a net run rate of -.780. They will need to get some wins under their belt in the middle half to get themselves towards the top of the ladder to stay alive in the IPL 2026.