A major blow for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Mumbai cricket team, as their key batter received a fresh injury ahead of an important match. The batter, who is in tremendous form for his whirlwind batting, injured his finger during a net session.

According to media reports on Monday, Sarfaraz Khan picked up an injury in his finger while doing batting practice in nets for the Mumbai cricket team ahead of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 (VHT 2025-26) quarterfinal against Karnataka at the Centre of Excellence in North Bengaluru. Along with Khan, Tushar Deshpande was also ruled out from the match because of injury concerns.

According to a TOI media report, "Sarfaraz, who had smashed a record 15-ball fifty against Punjab in the last league match of the stage—the fastest by an Indian in List A cricket—injured his finger after being struck by a ball from Sairaj Patil while batting in the nets."

Read More: Watch: Devon Conway acknowledges loud ‘CSK, CSK’ chants at BCA Stadium during IND vs NZ 1st ODI 2026

CSK batter Sarfaraz Khan injured his finger ahead of crucial matches

Just a match before, the middle-order batter smashed a record 15-ball half-century against Punjab, which is currently the fastest half-century in List-A cricket across the globe. Sarfaraz has been Mumbai’s top scorer in this tournament, scoring 303 runs in six matches at an average of 75.75 and a strike rate of 190.56. His highest score was 155 off 75 balls against Goa.

Before these explosive knocks, Sarfaraz Khan was bought by CSK for his base price of INR 75 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction.

Mumbai vs Karnataka VHT 2025-26 Playing XIs:

Karnataka: Mayank Agarwal (C), Devdutt Paddikal, Karun Nair, Smaran Ravichandran, Krishnan Shrijith, Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal, Vijay Kumar Vyshak, Vijaydhar Patil, Abhilash Shetty, Vidhwath Kaverappa.

Mumbai: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Musheer Khan, Siddhesh Lad, Hardik Tamore, Shams Mulani, Sairaj Patil, Suryansh Shedge, Tanush Kotian, Ishan Mulchandani, Mohit Awasthi, Onkar Tamale.

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh explains why Chennai Super Kings (CSK) never felt pressure when MS Dhoni was in charge of the team. During his prime, Dhoni, who won 5 IPL titles as CSK captain, was one of the most dominating forces in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Singh played multiple IPL seasons in the CSK jersey and under MS Dhoni's leadership.

During a recent podcast, Singh tried to explain the importance of MS Dhoni's presence in the CSK dressing room. The former spinner said that Dhoni had a very clear vision and knew how to guide the team to a victory. That mindset helped the team to shape in a way as well.

As the captain used to remain calm and collected, players also used to maintain their mindset no matter what the result of a match was. Without relying on star power, Dhoni tried to base the team on pure bonding. 

Read More: Yashasvi Jaiswal all set to become Rajasthan Royals captain in IPL 2026: Report

"Dhoni is clear in his thinking and exceptional at winning games, and that mindset reflects on the entire team. He builds a system where the dressing room matters most, with no big or small players, only contribution to the team." Harbhajan Singh explains how Dhoni influenced the atmosphere of Chennai Super Kings. 

Harbhajan Singh explains how MS Dhoni shaped CSK

"Win or lose, the atmosphere stays the same. Learn, move forward, and keep growing. That’s what makes his team special." 

Before joining Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2021, Harbhajan Singh played a crucial role during the IPL 2018 and IPL 2019 seasons. He was exceptionally well in the 2019 season with 16 wickets in 11 matches, maintaining an economy rate of 7.09. Singh was fortunate to lift the IPL trophy with CSK in 2018 when he got 7 scalps in 13 games. 

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza continues to defy age and expectations in T20 cricket. At 39, the experienced all-rounder is enjoying one of the most productive phases of his career, delivering consistent performances across leagues like the SA20 and ILT20 ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Despite his strong numbers and proven pedigree, Raza surprisingly went unsold at the Indian Premier League 2026 auction - a decision that left many fans and experts puzzled.

In an era where teams constantly seek multi-dimensional players, Raza remains a rare commodity. He offers control with his off-spin, adaptability across batting positions, and vast leadership experience gained from captaining Zimbabwe. Several IPL franchises, particularly those struggling with balance and depth, could have benefited significantly from his inclusion. Here are three teams where Sikandar Raza would have been a strong fit in IPL 2026.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

The Chennai Super Kings are renowned for backing experienced campaigners and extracting the best out of senior professionals. Over the years, CSK have turned veterans into match-winners through role clarity and smart usage - something that would have suited Raza perfectly.

With the squad lacking a proven overseas all-rounder and relying heavily on limited spin options, Raza could have added much-needed balance. His off-spin would have been particularly effective on slower Indian surfaces, while his ability to bat responsibly in the middle order could have stabilized an otherwise inexperienced batting lineup. Beyond numbers, his calm presence and cricketing intelligence would have aligned seamlessly with CSK’s culture of composure and tactical discipline.

ALSO SEE: ILT20 could move to Pakistan as CEO signals possible venue shift

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

The Kolkata Knight Riders entered IPL 2026 with noticeable gaps in their overseas spin department and finishing resources. While KKR possess explosive batting talent, consistency in the middle overs and death overs has often been a concern.

Raza would have provided a reliable solution on both fronts. As a bowler, he thrives on control rather than pace, making him ideal for containing batters during the middle phase. As a batter, his ability to rotate strike and finish innings would have eased pressure on younger players. Moreover, his experience in high-pressure games across leagues could have been invaluable during crunch moments, especially in close chases and knockout fixtures.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

The Lucknow Super Giants have built a squad full of individual match-winners, but balance remains a recurring issue. LSG lack a dependable spin all-rounder who can contribute consistently across disciplines, often forcing them to rely heavily on specialist finishers.

Sikandar Raza’s versatility would have offered LSG tactical flexibility. He could have been used as a floater with the bat, depending on the match situation, while also providing a steady bowling option when conditions suited spin. His presence would have reduced the workload on specialist bowlers and added depth to the batting order, making LSG a more complete unit across varied conditions.

While Sikandar Raza will not feature in IPL 2026, his continued success on the global T20 circuit highlights how experience and adaptability still hold immense value in modern franchise cricket. For teams willing to look beyond age and focus on impact, Raza remains one of the most underrated all-rounders in the game - and his omission could well be a missed opportunity for several franchises.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Ramakrishna Ghosh wreaked havoc in Maharashtra’s Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26 match against Himachal Pradesh. He returned 7/42 in 9.4 overs, putting up a stunning bowling performance.

The right-arm pacer struck early, taking three wickets in his opening overs. He picked up four more wickets in his first seven overs and later returned to claim three additional scalps. With this effort, Ghosh became only the 12th player in VHT history to take seven or more wickets in a single game.

Ramakrishna Ghosh has been in excellent form throughout the tournament. He has taken 13 wickets from three matches, averaging 10.53, with an economy rate of 5.13. Here are five interesting facts about the CSK player who impressed everyone with his bowling in VHT 2025-26.

Also Read -Oman announces squad for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

5. Ramakrishna Ghosh's debut T20 wicket was a former RCB star

Ramakrishna Ghosh made his T20 debut for Maharashtra against Karnataka in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2022 at Mohali. Though he had a challenging outing, conceding 58 runs in four overs, he managed to claim a big wicket on debut. He dismissed Karnataka skipper and former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Mayank Agarwal, who scored 28 runs off 17 balls at a strike rate of 164.70.

4. He played under the CSK captain in MPL 2024

Ghosh played under CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad in the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) 2024 season for Puneri Bappa. He excelled in the tournament and also performed well in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 for Maharashtra under Gaikwad’s leadership. Ghosh claimed 10 wickets in four matches at an average of 30.60 with an economy rate of 3.92.

3. Ghosh is also a hard-hitter and a capable batter

Although primarily a medium pace bowler, Ramakrishna Ghosh is a capable batter and a strong all-rounder. In the MPL 2024 season, he struck a 33-ball 52 for Puneri Bappa against Ratnagiri Jets. In Maharashtra’s recent Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26 game against Punjab, he scored a run-a-ball 73, including five boundaries and three sixes. In 11 first-class matches, he has accumulated 443 runs at an average of 36.91, including two half-centuries, with a top score of 99.

Read More -Top 5 major records Rohit Sharma achieved in 2025 you must know

2. He was part of MMCC in the Red Bull Campus Cricket 2018

Ramakrishna Ghosh was part of the Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Commerce (MMCC) team from Pune in the Red Bull Campus Cricket tournament in 2018. MMCC were the Indian champions of the tournament and finished as runners-up at the World Final in Sri Lanka. In the final, MMCC scored 211/2 against Business Management School (BMS), representing the host nation, but ultimately lost the contest.

1. CSK picked Ghosh during the IPL 2025 auction

Ramakrishna Ghosh was acquired by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for a base price of ₹30 lakh during the IPL 2025 auction. Having played under Ruturaj Gaikwad in MPL 2024, the CSK skipper may have influenced his selection. The 28-year-old was retained by CSK ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. Although he did not make his IPL debut in 2025, following his impressive performance in the ongoing VHT 2025-26, an IPL debut could be on the horizon.

The new pace bowling all-rounder of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Aman Khan, got an unwanted record in his name during the ongoing 2025/26 season of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) during the third round of the title. The Puducherry captain gave away 123 runs in his full quota of 10 overs against Jharkhand, which remains the most by a bowler in List A cricket.

Previously, the record for the most expensive spell in the List A game belonged to the pacer of Arunachal Pradesh, Mibom Mosu, who leaked 116 runs in nine overs against Bihar. It came during the opening round of the competition, where Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player to score a century in List A cricket, as Bihar posted a massive score of 574/6.

See Also: Top 5 batting performances from Day 3 of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26

Aman had registered for a base price of INR 30 lakh in the IPL 2026 auction, where the Chennai Super Kings acquired his services for a price of INR 40 lakh in the mini-auction. He had been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Delhi Capitals (DC).

CSK’s Aman Khan creates unwanted record

During the IPL 2022, he made just one appearance for the Knight Riders, where Capitals gave him a long run in the 2023 edition. He could only score 110 runs at an average of 13.75 and a strike rate of 108.91 with only one half-century of 44-ball 51 runs against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in a low-scoring affair, which the Capitals won by five runs in Ahmedabad.

In the first innings of the encounter, Jharkhand posted 368/7 in their allotted 50 overs with Kumar Kushagra, the standing captain and wicket-keeper batter, nailing 105 runs in 104 balls while Anukul Roy cracked a strong knock of unbeaten 98 runs in 63 balls at a strike rate of 184.91.

Puducherry were restricted to 235 runs in the chase with only Jashwanth Shreeram getting to 60 runs in 74 balls at a strike rate of 81.08, while the rest of the batters not able to convert the starts into a big score and faced the defeat by 133 runs.

Brief Scores: Jharkhand 368/7 (Kumar Kushagra 105, Anukul Roy 98*, Parth Vaghani 3/55) beat Puducherry 235 (Jashwanth 60, Rajandeep 3/47) by 133 runs. 

The former Indian wicket-keeper batter, Dinesh Karthik, has lauded the influence of World Cup-winning captain, MS Dhoni, on Chennai. During a recent podcast with England leg spinner, Adil Rashid, it was noted that they actually thought that Dhoni was from Chennai and not from any other city.

But it was Karthik, who informed that MS Dhoni had actually come from Ranchi, a city in Jharkhand, as he used to play for that domestic side in the past. The actual Tamil Nadu player, Dinesh Karthik, however, addressed Dhoni as the ‘breath of fresh air’ as the latter came from a small town in this country.

See Also: Watch: Should Virat Kohli play ODI World Cup 2027? Former captain's childhood coach explains

“He was like a breath of fresh air, and he was coming from a small town. (But) He is from a completely different part. He is actually from Bihar, Jharkhand, or Ranchi. And that is a completely different part of India. So, he represented Bihar at that time.” Karthik, featuring in the International League T20 (ILT20), shed light on the podcast that has gone viral on social media platforms.

Dinesh Karthik addresses MS Dhoni’s influence in Chennai

There has been a great relationship between Dhoni and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which started way back in 2008 when the Yellow franchise signed the wicket-keeper batter during the first auction. The right-handed batter has been the second leading run-getter of the team with 5314 runs in 238 innings at an average of 38.23.

Watch the video here: 

MS Dhoni's influence on Chennai is so massive that International cricketers actually think he's from Chennai. pic.twitter.com/tWAAPUfgiZ

— ` (@WorshipDhoni) December 25, 2025

He also carries a clinical strike rate of 139.29 with the help of 23 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 84 runs against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2019. In the leadership department, he has won five titles for the franchise before handing over the leadership duties to Ruturaj Gaikwad in 2024.

Dhoni’s time is about to get over in the IPL, and there is always speculation on when he will say goodbye to the tournament. The Ranchi-born will feature in the next season of the IPL and may aim to make a massive difference with the bat and leadership group after a poor campaign of a wooden spoon in 2025. 

Kartik Sharma, who received a record-breaking pay cheque from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as an uncapped Indian cricketer, expressed how his father used to train him. During a YouTube video with Jatin Sapru, Sharma revealed how he became a big hitter because of his father.

The 19-year-old said that he used to train under his father's observation from a very young age. Manoj Sharma, father of Karthik Sharma, who also dreamt of becoming a professional cricketer, knows the game very well and understands what modern-day cricket demands nowadays from a young cricketer. So, he used to tell Kartik to pay big shots. As the emerging batter said, his father really loves over-boundaries.

"My father trained me that way. He really loved sixes, and he used to say, “If you play defensive shots, I’ll scold you.” He told me to hit every ball. When I was young, he used to say that every ball should go into the stadium. If I defended, I would definitely get scolded," Kartik Sharma said about how he will feature for CSK in the IPL 2026 season.

Read More: Virat Kohli could be rested for New Zealand series: Report

Kartik further said how his family members were enthusiastic for the IPL 2026 auction. There was a TV in Kartik's room, and for the auction day, his father set another TV in the hall.

Kartik Sharma reveals how his father supported him grow as a big-hitter

"There was a TV in my room, and my father also set up another TV in the hall. All my family members gathered, and even uncles and aunties from our neighbourhood came over," Kartik added.

For the Rajasthan-born, there were multiple interests in the auction room. Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Chennai Super Kings put on their paddles to rope in the player. Eventually, CSK confirmed his service for a whopping amount of INR 14.2 crore. In 12 T20s, Kartik has scored 334 runs at a strike rate of 164, hitting 28 sixes.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) experienced their worst season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), finishing with the wooden spoon of the points table. They lost their captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, at the start of the season last year due to an injury, which pushed the franchise to appoint MS Dhoni as the leader for the rest of the series.

MS Dhoni’s presence in the leadership position couldn’t make much difference in the side as they continued to suffer in the batting department, by not putting enough runs on the board for the bowlers to defend. Even on flat tracks, they were not able to up the run-rate.

See Also: Watch: Nathan Lyon becomes Australia’s 2nd leading Test wicket-taker during 3rd Ashes 2025/26 Test

Once they got the young players, like Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, or Urvil Patel in the side, they realized the importance of chances in the playing eleven, which saw the franchise making a massive shift to the squad selection in the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi for the 2026 season.

Chennai Super Kings’ strongest playing 11 for IPL 2026 after mini-auction.

Chennai made a massive move by signing Sanju Samson ahead of the auction, which saw them end their decade-long relationship with the star spin all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, besides letting go of the star left-arm pace all-rounder from England, Sam Curran.

Chennai Super Kings full squad for IPL 2026

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Short, Sanju Samson, MS Dhoni, Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Shivam Dube, Zak Foulkes, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Aman Khan, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmed, Rahul Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Nathan Ellis, Matt Henry, Gurjapneet Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary.

CSK signed two uncapped players for a massive price of INR 14.2 crore each to the left-arm spin all-rounder, Prashant Veer, and the uncapped wicket-keeper batter, Karthik Sharma. The former is anticipated to be their future star as the replacement of Jadeja, while Karthik can be the new star wicket-keeper for the franchise after the potential retirement of MS Dhoni.

“Sometimes you can hang on to theories and philosophies because of past success, but we identified that we needed to shift, and partly the work that we did last season, halfway through, has enabled us to continue that work done.” Their head coach, Stephen Flemming, expressed after the end of the IPL 2026 auction.

CSK will face the headache of selecting their openers. They are likely to start with Samson and Mhatre at the opening position, followed by captain Gaikwad at number three. Dewald Brevis could find his feet at number four, with Shivam Dube being the spin hitter at number five. There will be discussions about whether they want to go with Karthik Sharma or Sarfaraz Khan at number six.

The latter, currently, has been in top notch with a strike rate of 203 in 330+ run campaign during the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025/26 for Mumbai, which could push his place. Veer will be the left-arm spinner at seven, followed by Dhoni at eight.

Nathan Ellis was excellent with his slower deliveries at the death overs last year and will now need to lead the period in the absence of Matheesha Pathirana. Another toss-up will be between Matt Henruy and Akeal Hossein, depending on the conditions they are playing in.

Noor Ahmed, one of their most successful players of the IPL 2025, will be the last player of the eleven, with Khaleel Ahmed expected to be the impact player of the side.

CSK's strongest 11 for IPL 2026 after mini auction

Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Karthik Sharma, Prashant Veer/Anshul Kamboj, MS Dhoni (wk..), Nathan Ellis, Matt Henry/Akeal Hossein, Noor Ahmed.

Impact player- Khaleel Ahmed.

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made headlines with their twin buys of two uncapped Indian players for a record price of ₹14.20 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. However, before and after these big moves, the team made several other signings that went mostly unnoticed.

One of these was the purchase of veteran New Zealand pacer Matt Henry for ₹2 crore, adding strength to their pace-bowling lineup. The Men in Yellow had a disappointing 2025 IPL season, finishing at the bottom of the points table.

Henry has also struggled in his few IPL appearances, averaging over 90 with an economy rate above 10 in six matches. Yet, the 2026 season with CSK could be his breakout year for several reasons.

Here are three key reasons why CSK should start Matt Henry in their playing XI for IPL 2026.

Also Read -Why did the Mumbai Indians bid for Cameron Green despite knowing they can't afford him? MI owner reveals

🚨 MATT HENRY SOLD TO CSK FOR 2 CRORES 🥹🔥 pic.twitter.com/AEpRLw5o7G

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 16, 2025

1. Matt Henry Has Become a Strong T20 Bowler

For most of his career, Matt Henry was seen as a new-ball bowler, mainly for longer formats. Many people thought he was only suited for that role, but recent performances show otherwise.

Henry has done very well in T20Is over the past two years. He has taken 25 T20I wickets since last year at an average of 21 and an economy rate under 9 in 18 matches.

He also played well in T20 leagues this year. In the Hundred 2025, he took four wickets at an average of 11 and an economy of 6.60. In the 2025 Vitality Blast, he finished with 16 wickets at an average of 17.56 and an economy of 7.39 in 10 matches.

Given his success in the shortest format, Henry should play in CSK’s 11 as a potential match-winner next season.

2. Henry Solves CSK’s Bowling Problems

CSK had a poor 2025 season because they struggled to find the right bowling balance. They often played three spinners — Ashwin, Jadeja, and Noor Ahmad — and had few good pace options.

This caused problems. Ashwin often bowled with the new ball and gave away runs. CSK also struggled in the last overs, with only Pathirana as a reliable option.

With Matt Henry, CSK will have one of the most reliable new-ball bowlers. He can control runs in the powerplay and take top-order wickets. Henry can also bowl in the death overs using slower balls and yorkers. His addition should fix one of CSK’s biggest problems from last season.

Read More -Watch: Virat Kohli travels to Alibaug with Anushka Sharma as video goes viral

3. CSK’s Auction Makes Henry a Key Player

Before the 2026 auction, CSK released three experienced pacers — Pathirana, Sam Curran, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti. This left the team with very few pace options.

In the auction, CSK bought only one specialist pacer, Matt Henry, along with two medium-pace all-rounders, Zak Foulkes and Aman Khan. CSK still needs another reliable pacer besides Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj.

While Jamie Overton is an option, he and the others are mainly support bowlers. This makes Matt Henry a default choice to strengthen CSK’s pace attack.

There was expectation heading into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction that the left-arm spinner from Uttar Pradesh, Prashant Veer, might end up getting a franchise in the IPL 2026 auction. But no one was certain about what was to unfold in the bidding war. By the time the auction was happening, the Uttar Pradesh side was practicing.

Prashant Veer was in the team bus as his state team-mate, Rinku Singh, opened his phone to check the bidding of the left-arm spinner, who was finally signed for a massive INR 14.2 crore to the Chennai Super Kings, who perhaps had an eye on him to be the shadow of their long-time servant, Ravindra Jadeja.

See Also: “New life…”- Sarfaraz Khan reacts to his signing by CSK during IPL 2026 auction

As the price got up and the hammer finally came down, there was a priceless reaction from Prashant as the video went viral. The teammates congratulated him with the spinner looking so happy and excited to get a new chance. That has been the story of the league over the years, where talent meets opportunity.

Prashant Veer gives priceless reaction to be signed by CSK

Veer has been identified from the UP T20 league, where he featured for the Noida Super Kings. The 20-year-old was decent with the bat and ball during the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025/26, where he got 112 runs at a strike rate of over 170 and picked up nine wickets at an economy rate of 6.76.

Watch the video here: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JUST ADULTING | SHIRAZ BAGHLA (@just.adulting)

“Prashant Veer, given that we needed that kind of skillset with trading Jadeja for Sanju and we identified him as a good talent going forward and filling that spot for us, doing that skillset. As the game has evolved, we might have been a little bit slow to evolve with it. Only halfway through the tournament (IPL 2025), we had a big shift.” CSK’s head coach, Stephen Flemming, expressed.

Along with CSK, the Lucknow Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals, and others also had interest in the bidding. Even the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) stretched themselves to INR 14 crore before finally losing to the Super Kings.