Aakash Chopra opens up on CSK’s IPL 2026 auction plan

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opined that Chennai Super Kings need a spinner in the IPL 2026 auction after their veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his IPL retirement. With reports suggesting that Ravindra Jadeja is also set to move to the Rajasthan Royals for Sanju Samson, Chennai will need to add strength to their spin bowling attack.

Noor Ahmad was the pick of the CSK’s bowlers in the last season as the Afghanistan spinner had scalped 24 wickets in 14 games. Meanwhile, the Chepauk track is known to assist the spinners, and CSK will definitely look to adopt a pragmatic approach in the auction.

“They might need a spinner now because Ashwin has left. So you will have to get someone in his place because you will not be able to manage with Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad. You will need more spinners,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

The renowned commentator said the five-time champions will want to bolster their seam-bowling attack.

“Matheesha Pathirana’s stocks have gone slightly down, but Khaleel Ahmed’s have gone up. They have Anshul Kamboj, Nathan Ellis and Mukesh Choudhary as well. So they have bowlers, but you may want to add a bit more to that as well,” he observed.

On the other hand, the renowned commentator said CSK would need one or two fairly good batters in the auction if they let go of Ravindra Jadeja, Devon Conway and Rahul Tripathi.

“With Ruturaj (Gaikwad) returning, opening and captaincy get set. There isn’t much to think about there. However, if you let Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar and Devon Conway go, although you have Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja in the lower-middle order, you still need one, if not two, fairly good batters, in which you need one or two overseas ones as well,” he said.

The former Delhi cricketer said CSK will need to strengthen their overseas batting contingent.

“When I see their overseas recruits, especially in terms of batting, Dewald Brevis, yes, but what about the rest? Only Rachin Ravindra is there, who can play as a proper batter. Then you see bowlers. They have Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton and Sam Curran. None of them is a batter. If you release Devon Conway, you need another batter,” Chopra reasoned.

The last date for retention release is November 15.