Chennai Super Kings (CSK) they have officially hit the ‘reset’ button. Following the high stakes IPL 2026 auction In Abu Dhabi, the franchise emerged with a squad that looked starkly different from the “seasoned” divisions of the past. Former CSK batter and cricket analyst Subramaniam Badrinath expressed his approval of the transition, breaking down 12 balancing blockbuster trades with record-breaking obscure talent.
With the separation of such long-term columns Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran AshwinBadrinath believes that CSK has finally adopted a ‘youth first’ philosophy to ensure success for the next decade.
CSK’s tactician: Gambling of youth
The biggest talking point of the auction was CSK’s aggressive pursuit of Indian players. It collectively spent a staggering ₹28.4 crore to secure the franchise Prashant Veer and Karthik Sharma. Badrinath points out that this is a clear departure from MS Dhoni-Stephen Fleming’s “safety first” guideline.
by trading for Sanju Samson (Jadeja et al Sam Curran), CSK also settled on long-term leadership and consistent wicketkeeping plans, creating a top-class batting line-up designed for modern T20 aggression.
S. Badrinath predicts CSK’s 12th match for IPL 2026
Based on auction buys and squad balance, Badrinath’s preferred XII at Star Sports has a mix of fearless openers and a completely revamped spin department. Badrinath’s analysis mainly focuses on Prashant’s role. Losing Jadeja was a big blow, but Badrinath argues that Veer’s left-arm spin and explosive lower-order batting make him the ideal successor. In addition, the combination of Kartik and MS Dhoni at the back ensures that CSK remain one of the most dangerous finishing units in the league.
Also READ: ‘Missed a small trick’: Ravichandran Ashwin candidly assesses CSK’s performance in IPL 2026 Auction
Badrinath’s CSK 12 for IPL 2026:
| no. | Player | Role | Impact / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ayush Mhatre | An opener | Rising star; Badrinath’s pick for the most exciting young opener. |
| 2 | Sanju Samson | Opener / WK | Blockbuster trade; He is expected to lead the charge in the Powerplay. |
| 3 | Traditional Gaikwad (C) | Top Order | Anchor; Returning from injury, he leads the “Yeni Era” team. |
| 4 | Devald Brewis ✈️ | Middle Order | “Baby AB” provides external muscles in the middle parts. |
| 5 | Shivam Dubey | Comprehensive | Regarded as the main destroyer of spin bowling. |
| 6 | Karthik Sharma | Finisher / WK | Get ₹ 14.2 Cr. and is considered the “Future of Indian Finishing”. |
| 7 | MS Dhoni | Finisher | A “Teacher-Player” will likely step down to lead the youngsters. |
| 8 | Prashant Veer | Comprehensive | Get ₹ 14.2 Cr. Direct tactical replacement for Ravindra Jadeja. |
| 9 | Nathan Ellis ✈️ | Tempo (Death) | Tactical choice; Its slower cutters on the Chepauk tracks will certainly be an advantage. |
| 10 | Khaleel Ahmed | Pace (Left arm) | Provides powerplay swing and much needed left arm angle. |
| 11 | Nur Ahmed ✈️ | Wrist rotation | The main goalkeeper; world-class quality at a young age. |
| 12 | Rahul Chahar | Influence Alt | Badrinath suggests Chahar double down on the spin advantage at home. |
There is no place for Sarfaraz Khan
In a move that surprised many fans, Badrinath did not find a place for himself Sarfaraz Khan start at 12. Sarfaraz was picked in an accelerated round during the auction, but Badrinath’s selection shows Sarfaraz’s preference for ‘specialist’ roles rather than his traditional middle-order playing style. Favoring the explosive power of Dube and the finishing potential of the highly priced Karthik, the analyst suggests that there is simply no room in the current XI for Sarfaraz to fit into the tactical puzzle that Badrinath envisions for the Yellow Army.
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