IPL 2026: 5 Players CSK should target in mini auction

Chennai Super Kings go into the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a clear brief to add high-impact, flexible signings who fit a stable core. CSK have a decent purse left after retentions and a need for match-winners who can be slotted without breaking the team’s balance. Here are five players who make strong tactical sense for CSK, with why each one matters, what they bring, and how they’d fit into Dhoni’s setup.

1. Cameron Green

Green’s selling point is simple. He is a genuine top-order hitter, plus he offers seam bowling upfront. He can bat at 3–5, depending on the game plan and offer two to three overs of genuine pace when needed. His all-round abilities make him a genuine match-winner in a true sense.

For CSK, Green solves two problems at once — a long-term overseas batter who can absorb responsibility and the bonus of an extra seam option on pitches that occasionally assist pace. With media reports placing Green among the top names in the auction pool, he’s the sort of high-ceiling player CSK should back if the price is right. He can become a core player for the long term for CSK.

2. Wanindu Hasaranga

Hasaranga remains one of the best wicket-taking wrist-spinners in T20 cricket. He consistently creates pressure through flight, the wrong’un and aggressive lines. He offers the kind of spin that forces risky shots in the middle overs. 

For CSK, who sometimes need a second frontline spinner capable of taking wickets, Hasaranga gives an attacking spin option and handy lower-order hitting. Having let go of Ravindra Jadeja as a spin bowling all-rounder, Hasaranga can become a really good alternate for the team. Rajasthan Royals’ decision to release him makes him an auction target with immediate impact potential.

3. Matheesha Pathirana

Pathirana’s raw pace and deceptive action have produced decisive overs in the IPL before, and Chennai’s own decision to release him suggests they might try to buy him back cheaper. If Pathirana passes fitness checks, he offers CSK a hard-to-find blend of express short-ball pace, toe-crushing yorkers and a skillset that thrives in the death overs. 

Re-acquiring him would be low-risk (familiarity with CSK’s environment) and high-reward if he regains rhythm. Reports confirm he’s in the auction pool and Chennai would be eager to buy him back at a lower price.

4. Michael Bracewell

Bracewell is a pragmatic pick as he offers left-handed batting, tidy off-spin and sharp fielding. He won’t be the headline grabber, but he brings CSK strategic flexibility as he can steady the middle order, bowl three to four tidy overs, and hold the team balance without using up a premium overseas slot for a single role. 

For a franchise that prizes squad balance, Bracewell is the kind of dependable, lower-variance signing that reduces selection headaches over a long tournament. He’s confirmed in the auction pool and can be a good replacement for Rachin Ravindra.

5. Adam Zampa

Zampa is an experienced leg-spinner who ties down scoring and picks wickets through subtle variations. With CSK’s attack often built around spinners, adding a world-class leg-spinner who can bowl three-to-four attacking middle-overs provides a safety valve when pitches slow, or the opposition bats deep. Sunrisers Hyderabad released Zampa, so he’ll be available, and his record in Indian conditions makes him an attractive, plug-and-play option.

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