with Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Discussions about the team formations, which are scheduled to begin on March 28, have begun to intensify. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)coming off a disappointing campaign last season are in the spotlight as pundits and former players ponder how the franchise can turn things around. Ex-Indian Corpse Abhinav Mukund has now shared his thoughts on CSK’s ideal top order and suggested a new and aggressive approach to address their long-running power play.
CSK are looking for a comeback after back-to-back setbacks
The Super Kings endured a forgettable IPL 2025 season and finished at the bottom of the points table with just four wins from 14 matches. The struggles were not confined to one department, but their top-level inconsistency loomed as a major concern. Even in IPL 2024, the franchise failed to qualify for the playoffs, raising questions about its evolving strategy in the fast-changing T20 landscape.
Acknowledging these issues, CSK took bold steps ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. Their focus was on injecting youth and dynamism into the squad. One of the most talked about points was the purchase Sanju Samsona move that generated considerable buzz among fans and pundits alike.
A solid opening pair for IPL 2026
Mukund feels that CSK need to rethink their approach and favor an aggressive intent in the power play. He supported Samson and the young talent Ayush Mhatre Opening the innings for the franchise in IPL 2026.
According to Mukund, the power play has become a defining stage in modern T20 cricket and teams can no longer afford slow starts. He pointed out that CSK’s opening partnerships and powerplay results have been among the weakest in recent seasons, often putting them on the back foot early in games.
Mukund stressed that a minimum of 60 runs in the top six is essential now and players like Samson and Mhatre have the skills to achieve it consistently. While Mhatre has shown promise during his tenure in Mumbai, Mukund admitted that he has faced some challenges on the South African pitches but remains a very explosive option.
“This is Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team. He wants these kind of (aggressive) players. In the last few seasons, they have had the worst opening partnerships, the worst power plays. In terms of how they started, they were behind the eight ball. I think the games have become a powerplay game, where 60 is the minimum. I think they are the biggest opening issue. Sanju before the auction, Sanju and Mhatre are open for me. Mukund said on ESPNcricinfo.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad #3
Mukund also suggested that captain Ruturaj Gaikwad Should slot in at No. 3, a position that allows him to anchor shots while maintaining pace. He believes that this combination is in line with Gaikwad’s leadership vision of building a more aggressive and fearless batting unit. However, this approach can lead to difficult selection decisions. Mukund pointed out that if Samson and Mhatre are open, they can leave players like that Urvil Patel on the outside, emphasizing the depth and competition within the squad.
“I still think Mhatre will be as explosive as ever. He has opened for Mumbai. He has struggled a bit on the South African pitches. But if you have Mhatre in your side and Rutu wants to hit threes, then unfortunately Urvil Patel misses out,” Mukund added.
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