3 Finishers CSK Might Target as MS Dhoni’s Successor Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction

With MS Dhoni’s retirement looming (likely after the 2026 IPL), Chennai Super Kings will need a new match-finisher to fill the lower middle order and potentially handle big hitting duties. Dhoni’s ability to close out games with sixes and calm under pressure has been a cornerstone of CSK’s success, so finding a talented finisher has become a priority. In fact, analysts noted CSK’s struggles in IPL 2025 – “the worst-ever performance” for the franchise – and emphasized the need for a batter “who can hit sixes at will and provide final flourishes down the order” with Dhoni’s future uncertain. Below are three players (a mix of Indian and overseas talent) who could step into that role and uphold CSK’s legacy.

1. Glenn Maxwell (Australia, PBKS All-Rounder)

Glenn Maxwell is an explosive middle-order batter known for game-changing finishes and off-spin bowling. He’s tallied 2,819 IPL runs in 141 matches at a staggering 155.15 strike rate. Maxwell’s aggressive approach – “fearless and unpredictable batting” – often shifts momentum, and his handy off-spin adds bowling depth. For example, Maxwell smashed 17 sixes in a single ODI innings, and in T20s he’s repeatedly turned tight games around. In the IPL 2025 season, he played 7 matches for PBKS before being ruled out for half the season due to injury. He scored 48 runs with a highest score of 30, averaging 8.00 with a strike rate of 97.96. He didn’t score any centuries or fifties

CSK could use Maxwell as an overseas finisher who also bowls in the middle overs, much like they once utilized Dwayne Bravo or Moeen Ali. His experience (as an ICC Champions Trophy winner and former Australia vice-captain) means he brings leadership and a winning mentality.

Batting: 2,819 runs and 155 SR (IPL); 18 fifties, HS 95. Known for finishing innings with big hits.

Bowling: Right-arm off-spin, useful in Chennai’s spin-friendly conditions. 41 IPL wickets (economy 8.3)

Fit for CSK: Explosive finisher at No. 5–7, provides extra bowling option, fearlessness suits CSK’s legacy of big-hitting. No captaincy baggage but plenty of experience.

2. Rahul Tewatia (India, Gujarat Titans)

Rahul Tewatia has emerged as one of IPL’s iconic death-overs batters. An all-rounder (left-handed batting, leg-break bowling), he’s famous for clutch finishes – most notably blasting 5 sixes in one over in IPL 2020 and his last-ball heroics for GT in 2022. Tewatia’s “explosive finishing ability” and credits him as a “match-winner in IPL, delivering clutch performances under pressure”. In IPL 2024 he scored 188 runs at a 135+ strike rate, often cameos of 20–40 runs at the death. This is the kind of role Dhoni played for CSK – anchoring the end of innings and clearing the boundary when needed.

Batting & Finishing: 1,112 IPL runs at 25+ average, known for quick 30s–40s late in innings. Iconic hits include a 12-run last over to win in 2022.

Bowling: Useful leg-spinner (32 IPL wickets) adds bowling depth, akin to having an extra spinner in Chennai’s lineup.

Leadership & Fit: No captaincy pedigree, but he brings calm and flair. At age 30, he offers several more IPL seasons. His role at GT – “coming in down the order and finishing games” – closely mirrors Dhoni’s. CSK could use him as a domestic finisher and part-time spinner, preserving overseas slots for others.

3. Ashutosh Sharma (India, Delhi Capitals)

Ashutosh Sharma is a young Indian finisher who burst onto the scene in IPL 2024–25. Only 26 years old, he hit 186 runs in eight innings of IPL 2025 at an astonishing 167.56 strike rate. He has a knack for game-changing cameos under pressure: for instance, Ashutosh scored an unbeaten 66* off 31 balls in a one-wicket thriller (DC vs LSG 2025) to snatch victory from a tough chase. In another game, he walked in at 62/6 and clobbered 41*(26) to revive Delhi’s innings. Ashutosh “loves to play under pressure” and has repeatedly rescued his team when wickets fell early

Batting: IPL 2025 – 186 runs and SR 167.56, average 31. Already two 50+ knocks, including a 66* to seal a win.

Experience: Young with huge upside; had one IPL season so far (PBKS 2024, DC 2025) but has proven finishing instincts.

Fit for CSK: A potential long-term investment. His fearless style and numbers (high strike-rate) fit the CSK blueprint for a finisher. While he’s not a wicketkeeper, CSK could use him as a specialist batter in the lower-middle order. As one analyst pointed out, Ashutosh “can change the game from tough situations,” exactly the trait Dhoni provided

Each of the above candidates brings something Dhoni offered CSK: big-hitting at the death, calm under pressure, and (in some cases) bowling or all-round ability. Maxwell and Tewatia have proven IPL track records with big innings and can mentor younger players, while Ashutosh offers raw talent and a fresh spark. Together, they cover CSK’s needs – an explosive foreign all-rounder, a savvy Indian finisher (Tewatia), and a rising Indian star (Ashutosh) – all of whom could uphold CSK’s legacy. If CSK secures one of these batters in IPL 2026, they’ll have a strong “Dhoni successor” in the middle order to keep the Super Kings’ finishing fire burning

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