Chennai Super Kings (CSK) completely shifted their long-standing ‘experience-first’ philosophy at the IPL 2026 auction, opting for a youth-centric rebuild after a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw them finish at the bottom of the table. Armed with the second-largest purse of ₹43.40 crore, CSK stunned fans and experts alike by spending more than sixty percent of their budget on two uncapped Indian players. With the squad now taking shape, the biggest question is how CSK’s best XI should look. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin weighed in by picking his preferred CSK XI in response to the franchise’s fan poll on social media.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s CSK playing XI for IPL 2026

Solid opening pair to set the tone

Ashwin backed a fresh yet balanced opening combination, pairing young Ayush Mhatre with Sanju Samson. Notably, Samson was roped in by CSK through the trading window ahead of the auction, adding both experience and explosiveness at the top. Ayush’s inclusion reflects CSK’s renewed trust in fearless young batters, while Samson’s ability to dominate the Powerplay and keep wickets provides tactical flexibility.

The powerhouse middle order

The backbone of Ashwin’s XI lies in the middle order, led by skipper Travel Giikwad. Ashwin sees Gaikwad as the perfect anchor who can shift gears when required. Shivam Dubey‘s presence adds brute hitting power against spin, while Dewald Brevis offers dynamism and innovation, particularly in the middle overs. Together, the trio blends stability with aggression—something CSK lacked last season.

The MS Dhoni factor remains crucial

Even in a new-era CSK, MS Dhoni continues to be central to the team’s balance. Ashwin slotted uncapped all-rounder Prashant Veer alongside Dhoni, highlighting a mentor-protégé dynamic. Veer’s inclusion rewards his auction hype, while Dhoni’s calm presence behind the stumps and in crunch moments remains invaluable, especially for a young squad navigating high-pressure situations.

Dynamic bowling combination offers variety

Ashwin’s bowling attack focuses on adaptability across conditions. He picked either Akeal Hosein or Matt Henry based on match-ups, supported by Khaleel Ahmed’s left-arm pace, Nathan Ellis’ death-over expertise, and Noor Ahmed’s wrist-spin threat. The combination provides pace, swing, variations, and spin—covering all phases of a T20 innings.

Impact players in Ashwin’s setup

For the Impact Player role, Ashwin suggested flexible options such as Anshul, Karthik Sharma, Shreyas Gopalor Sarfraz, depending on conditions and opposition. This reinforces CSK’s intent to stay tactically agile rather than lock into rigid combinations.

No place for ₹14.20 crore rookie

The most striking omission from Ashwin’s XI is Kartik. The 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was snapped up for a staggering ₹14.20 crore, making him the joint-most expensive uncapped player in IPL history alongside Prashant. Despite the massive investment, Ashwin appears to prefer easing Kartik into the tournament rather than throwing him straight into the starting XI. The call underlines a clear message: price tags won’t dictate selection in CSK’s new-look setup, with balance and readiness taking precedence over hype.

Ashwin’s CSK playing XI for IPL 2026: Ayush Mhatre, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Prashant Veer, MS Dhoni, Akeal Hosein/Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmed.