The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction was held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16with 369 players available for franchises to bid on. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made headlines with an aggressive auction strategy, especially by backing Indian domestic talent.

CSK bought nine players at the auction and set a new benchmark by signing uncapped Indian duo Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for Rs. 14.20 crore eachthe highest-ever bids by the franchise for uncapped players.

Ruturaj Gaikwad to continue as CSK captain

CSK have retained Travel Giikwad as captain for IPL 2026. The squad continues to balance experience and youth, with MS Dhoni still part of the setup alongside several emerging Indian names and proven overseas performers.

What CSK did at the IPL 2026 auction

Chennai Super Kings entered the auction with a clear focus on strengthening their Indian core while adding depth to their bowling attack. The franchise placed heavy bets on Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharmasignaling a long-term vision and succession planning.

CSK also bolstered their spin and pace departments by signing Akeal Hosein and Rahul Chaharwhile overseas additions such as Matthew Short, Matt Henryand Zak Foulkes provide flexibility across conditions. The inclusion of Sarfaraz Khan adds middle-order experience and domestic consistency.

Players bought by Chennai Super Kings at IPL 2026 auction

Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes.

CSK auction summary

• Purse remaining: Rs. 2.40 crore
• Player slots remaining: 0
• Overseas slots remaining: 0

CSK retained players ahead of the auction

Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson (traded from Rajasthan Royals), Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis.

Chennai Super Kings full squad for IPL 2026

Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes.

Squad outlook

Chennai Super Kings head into IPL 2026 with one of their boldest auction strategies in recent years. With record-breaking investments in uncapped Indian talent and a squad that blends experience, versatility, and depth, CSK will look to build a competitive unit around Ruturaj Gaikwad while preparing for the future.