Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar has given this opinion Ayush Mhatre Will be used as a regular starter by Chennai Super Kings in the 2026 Indian Premier League. Mhatre is one of the 15 players retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
Bangar revealed that CSK are preparing for a major rebuild by playing with Mhatre in 2025 after it was confirmed that the five-time champions would not make the playoffs.
“I think, more or less, they started this rebuilding phase last season itself wherein they realized that they didn't have a chance to make the playoffs. So they started giving chances. They looked at Ayush Mhatre, who I think is going to be a starter in the playing eleven, batting at No. 3,” Bangar shared during a conversation on Star Sports.
Bangar also talked about having a foreign batsman with enough experience at the No. 4 spot. He considered playing Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dubey at No. 5 and No. 6 respectively.
He said, “The No. 4 slot is still an open thing. They would like to have someone at No. 4 because Brevis and Dubey can do a very, very good job at No. 5 and No. 6. I would say Brevis is at No. 6. The No. 4 spot can go to an experienced overseas batsman.”
Mhatre came into the five-time IPL champion squad as an injury replacement for full-time captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. mhatre registered 240 runs in seven matches at an explosive strike rate of 188.97. His highest score of 94 off 48 against arch-rivals Royal Challengers Bangalore came in a losing cause.
Chennai Super Kings The auction has a purse of Rs 43.4 crore and nine slots, including four overseas, are left. He will be aiming to improve his team for a better IPL 2026 than the 2025 repeat in which they finished bottom of the points table for the first time in the history of the tournament.
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