CSK Playing 11: Current Squad, Captain and How Chennai Lined Up in IPL 2026

Looking for the CSK playing 11? This page started life as a prediction for IPL 2024, but Chennai Super Kings have changed a lot since then. Ruturaj Gaikwad is captain, Sanju Samson joined in a blockbuster trade, Ravindra Jadeja has gone to Rajasthan Royals, and MS Dhoni did not play a single match in IPL 2026.

Quick answer: CSK's settled IPL 2026 XI was Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad and Mukesh Choudhary. Chennai finished 8th in IPL 2026 with 12 points, after finishing last in 2025. Their IPL 2027 squad depends on the retention lists due on 17 November 2026 and the 16 December 2026 mini-auction in Goa, and on whether Dhoni decides to play one more season.

CSK playing XI in IPL 2026

This is the XI CSK named, unchanged from the previous game, against Lucknow Super Giants on 10 May 2026. It reflects their most-used line-up in the second half of the season.

Impact Player options that day: Gurjapneet Singh, Prashant Veer, Matthew Short, Sarfaraz Khan and Akash Madhwal. Overton later left the squad and South African pacer Dian Forrester came in as a replacement. If you pick CSK players for fantasy cricket, our guide to fantasy cricket apps in India explains which free formats are still legal.

Also read: RCB Playing XI: Squad, Captain and the Team That Won IPL 2025 and 2026

How CSK's 2026 season went

Chennai lost their first three games, to Rajasthan, Punjab and RCB, and spent the season chasing the pack.

• Record: 14 matches, 6 wins, 8 losses, 12 points, 8th place.

• Best moments: Sanju Samson hit two centuries, one in CSK's first win (against Delhi Capitals) and one in a 103-run thrashing of Mumbai Indians, MI's heaviest defeat by runs.

• Breakout star: Anshul Kamboj took 21 wickets, the most for CSK.

What happened to the IPL 2024 prediction

The original version of this article predicted Dhoni as captain, with Rachin Ravindra opening, Daryl Mitchell and Sameer Rizvi in the middle order, and Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana in the attack. Here is how it actually played out.

• Captaincy: On the eve of IPL 2024, Dhoni handed the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad.

• Result: CSK finished 5th, missing the playoffs after losing their last league game to RCB.

• Rachin, Rizvi and Mitchell all got chances, but none became a long-term fixture.

IPL 2025: retentions, injury and a last-place finish

Before the 2025 mega auction, CSK retained five players:

The season went wrong early. Gaikwad was ruled out with an elbow fracture after five matches, Dhoni took back the captaincy, and CSK finished 10th for the first time. The silver linings were teenage opener Ayush Mhatre and South African Dewald Brevis, both mid-season signings.

Also read: Why Harry Brook Pulled Out of IPL 2024, His 2025 Withdrawal and the IPL Ban Explained

The big reset for IPL 2026

CSK made bold moves in the 2025-26 off-season:

1. The Samson trade: Chennai traded Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals for Sanju Samson (₹18 crore).

2. Releases: Pathirana, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda were let go, and R Ashwin retired from the IPL in August 2025.

3. Auction: at the December 2025 auction in Abu Dhabi, CSK paid ₹14.2 crore each for uncapped Indians Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, and added Rahul Chahar (₹5.2 crore), Matt Henry, Akeal Hosein, Matthew Short and Sarfaraz Khan.

Will MS Dhoni play IPL 2027?

Dhoni missed all of IPL 2026, the first season since 2008 in which he did not play. He was reported to be dealing with a side strain and long-standing knee problems, though he stayed with the squad at home games. In late October 2026, he said he would need medical tests "before December" to see if he was strong enough to "maybe play one more season". CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has said only Dhoni can answer that question. Until CSK submit their retention list, his IPL 2027 status is open.

FAQs

Who is the captain of CSK?

Ruturaj Gaikwad. He took over from MS Dhoni before IPL 2024 and led CSK again in 2026. Dhoni stood in for most of 2025 after Gaikwad's elbow injury.

Did MS Dhoni play in IPL 2026?

No. Dhoni played no matches in IPL 2026 because of fitness problems, and he has not yet confirmed whether he will play in 2027.

Is Ravindra Jadeja still in CSK?

No. Jadeja and Sam Curran were traded to Rajasthan Royals before IPL 2026 in exchange for Sanju Samson.

Where did CSK finish in IPL 2026?

Eighth, with 6 wins and 8 losses (12 points). In IPL 2025 they finished 10th.

How many IPL titles have CSK won?

Five: 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023, all under Dhoni.

More reading: our pick of the best IPL captain of all time, the full IPL 2025 schedule and results, and how every team handled the IPL 2025 retentions.

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