IPL 2026: Aakash Chopra reveals his picks for CSK in their batting order in the mini-auction

Aakash Chopra predicted CSK's IPL 2026 batting order post-trades: Gaikwad/Mhatre opening, Sanju Samson at No. 3. He urged CSK to target overseas hitters like Livingstone/Miller and called uncapped Kartik Sharma his top Indian pick for the middle-order.

13 Dec 2025 13:56 IST

New Update

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has opened up on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) interests in the upcoming IPL 2026 mini-auction, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 16.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra asserted that CSK might not show much interest in the all-rounder Cameron Green, adding that they might instead go for players like David Miller, Liam Livingstone, Devon Conway, Jonny Bairstow, and Jamie Smith for their top and middle-order.

"Chennai very rarely buys someone for ₹25-30 crore. It's not their style. They might go for Cameron Green for some time, and then say they don't need him, or at times, you strategically keep increasing someone's price, but you don't mind at all if you don't get him," Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"So CSK might not show that much interest in Cameron Green. However, they will have to show interest in a middle-order batter. It seems like the top six is fine, but they are not all fine. I see slightly less experience. If you have the option of overseas players available, play them," he added.

"They might like Liam Livingstone. They might take Devon Conway back. Jonny Bairstow might not suit them that much. They might like Jamie Smith, a player who can bat down the order. They might be interested in David Miller. Since you have so much money, take two overseas batters at least," Chopra noted.

CSK released players:

Ravindra Jadeja (traded to Rajasthan Royals), Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Sam Curran (traded to Rajasthan Royals), Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Shaik Rasheed, Matheesha Pathirana, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Rahul Tripathi, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth.

CSK retained players:

Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, M.S. 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.

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