Chennai Super Kings made bold squad changes for IPL 2026 after a tough 2025 season. Their biggest weakness last season was their opening partnerships, which collapsed repeatedly, with their highest opening stand in one match being just 14 runs. This season in the CSK vs RR fixture, where Chennai will start their campaign changes are expected.
To fix this, CSK made sweeping changes, trading away Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Sanju Samson in a massive Rs 18 crore deal. They also released Matheesha Pathirana, Devon Conway, and Rachin Ravindra.
At the auction, CSK splashed big on uncapped talent, signing Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for Rs 14.2 crore each, the highest price ever paid for uncapped players. They also brought in Matt Henry, Akeal Hosein, Rahul Chahar, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, and Sarfaraz Khan. Ruturaj Gaikwad continues as captain with MS Dhoni retained, while Shivam Dube, Noor Ahmad, and others remain, giving the squad strong batting and bowling depth.
Will Mhatre Open the Batting?
Ayush Mhatre is widely expected to bat at the top for CSK in IPL 2026. Experts, including Aakash Chopra, predict he will open alongside Sanju Samson, with Ruturaj Gaikwad slotting in at number three. Mhatre is an explosive right-hander who impressed in IPL 2025 with a strike rate of over 180 in limited-overs cricket.
If he does not open, Mhatre could bat at number three, a position where he has already thrived for India U19. In the recently concluded U19 World Cup, he scored 214 runs in 7 matches, including crucial half-centuries in the semifinal and final, and also contributed with the ball by taking key wickets.
His domestic form has been equally remarkable. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he smashed 325 runs in 6 matches at an average of 108.33 and a strike rate of 166.66, hitting two centuries, and in the process became the youngest player to score a T20 century. His most impactful knock was an unbeaten 110 against Vidarbha in a 193-run chase, featuring 8 sixes and 8 boundaries to secure a 7-wicket victory.
Should Samson and Gaikwad Open Together in CSK vs RR Match?
Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad could also work well together as CSK's opening pair, given how naturally their styles complement each other.
Ruturaj is measured and technically sound. He loves driving full deliveries and stays composed under pressure. The majority of his IPL runs have come as an opener, and his numbers reflect it: 2,289 runs in 60 innings at an average of 44.01 and a strike rate of 136.9, including a remarkable 635-run season in 2021 when he won the Orange Cap.
In contrast, his record at number three is notably weaker, just 208 runs in 8 innings at an average of 26. Opening allows him to face the new ball on a good length, play his natural game, and settle in without immediately dealing with spin. Coming in at number three means navigating more pressure with less time to build.
Samson, meanwhile, is the aggressor. He attacks from ball one and has the ability to dominate short-pitched bowling, as his recent T20 World Cup form demonstrated. His opening record in the IPL is exceptional: 4,704 runs at an average of 30.94 and a strike rate of 139.04, figures that are significantly stronger than his record lower in the order, making a clear case for him to continue opening the innings.
Together, this opening combination, whichever way CSK ultimately sets it up, blends explosive intent with technical solidity, directly addressing the powerplay struggles that cost them so dearly in 2025.
