Past Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to bury Robin Uthappa weighed in on the franchise strategy for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 The auction predicts that they will target two particular international all-rounders.
CSK has already undergone the biggest squad reset among all franchises, releasing 11 players, including the most foreign stars Devon Consway, Rachin Ravindra and sold Sam Curran. This sweeping sweep has equipped the super kings with a hefty purse of Rs 43.4 crore, giving them considerable financial leverage to rebuild their squads. Uthappa’s predictions are up to CSK, using this deep bag to match the franchise’s historic selection of multi-utility players, using a highly effective bag.
Two overseas targets for CSK in Robin Uthappa’s IPL 2026 auction
Robin Uthappa Two international all-rounders named two internationals who believed in the management of CSK led by the head coach Stephen Flamzanwill continue aggressively in the iPl 2026 auction to strengthen their squad. Recently released by their former teams, these players offer the versatility that Chennai has traditionally prized.
- Glenn Maxwell (Australian all-rounder): Uthappa believes CSK will target Maxwell, who was released by Punjab Kings (PBKS). Head coach Stephen Flaming expressed his preference for Australia: “I know Stephen likes flamzane maxwell, so he can follow him.” Uthappa suggested that CSK is uniquely positioned to manage the star: “He can go there and I think they (CSK) can also manage their identity.” Despite Maxwell’s disastrous season with the bat last year, just 48 runs in six overs, Uthappa maintained that CSK’s value would primarily be as a bowler. He concluded: “I think maxwell, especially, is more of a bowler than a bowler.
- Liam Livingstone (England all-rounder): Echoing former Bitye, Uthappa’s strategic thinking for CSK is Mohammad Kaif, while the second high-impact all-rounder, Livingstone (released by RCB), as a likely target. KAIF advised that CSK will target both: “So they will go after the likes of Livingstone and Maxwell.” KAIF explained that Livingstone, an explosive middle-order batter and a handy spinner, would be a perfect fit for the Chepauk pitch: “Livingstone will also suit Chennai. He can be the sixth bowler to bat at five.” He added that the team’s historic success relies on deep-seated and well-rounded: “CSK has a history of seeing deep and comprehensive outings. Overton bats as he plays the same as Curran. Bravo, he was albie morkel for so many years.”
IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings’ disappointing last place finish
The 2025 season marked CSK’s worst ever campaign as the team started at the bottom of the table (10th place) for the first time since the league’s inception. The five-time champions registered an impressive record of just four wins from 14 matches and were the first side to be officially eliminated from playeph contention. The campaign unfolded further when he was appointed captain Travel Giikwad He was ruled out mid-season by an elbow injury that forced him Ms dhoni To stop as a skipper, even the management could not stop the slide.
The team’s batting was a major concern, registering the lowest power play ratio in the league at 8.70. Major foreign openers, Devon Consway (156 runs in six overs) and Rachin Ravindra (191 runs in eight innings), experienced a sharp decline in rebounds compared to previous seasons. Moreover, CSK suffered a historic low, losing five home games at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. This disappointing performance led to a massive squad reset and high-profile trades for the franchise, which began high-profile trades ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
Read: Mohammad Kaif picks two bowlers CSK could target in IPL 2026 Mini Auction
