Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will need to strengthen their spin department ahead of the upcoming IPL 2026 mini auction, reportedly set for December 15. With veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin retiring from all forms of cricket, Chopra feels the franchise must look for replacements to maintain balance in the squad.
According to the former cricketer-turned-analyst, even if Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad are retained, CSK will still need more spin options. “They might need a spinner now because Ashwin has left. You won’t be able to manage with just Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad. You will need more spinners,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Aakash Chopra suggests CSK bolster fast bowling and batting depth
Chopra further highlighted that Matheesha Pathirana’s stocks have dipped slightly, while Khaleel Ahmed’s value has increased ahead of the auction. Although CSK have Anshul Kamboj, Nathan Ellis, and Mukesh Choudhary in their ranks, he believes the five-time champions could still consider adding more fast bowlers.
“Pathirana’s stocks have gone slightly down, but Khaleel Ahmed’s have gone up. They have Kamboj, Ellis, and Choudhary, but they might want to add more depth to the pace unit as well,” Chopra observed.
He also addressed CSK’s batting concerns, especially if the team decides to release Devon Conway. While Ruturaj Gaikwad’s return will provide stability at the top and in leadership, Chopra feels the franchise could be left short on specialist batters.
“With Ruturaj returning, opening and captaincy are sorted. However, if you let go of Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, and Devon Conway, you’ll still need one or two reliable batters—possibly overseas options,” Chopra explained.
Looking at CSK’s overseas recruits, Chopra noted that apart from Rachin Ravindra and Dewald Brevis, the rest are primarily bowlers. “They have Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, and Sam Curran, but none are specialist batters. So, if you release Devon Conway, you definitely need another top-order batter,” he added.
