IPL 2026: Chennai Super Kings' Best Playing XI for the Next Season | CSK’s Dream Playing 11 

IPL 2026: Chennai Super Kings' Best Playing XI for the Next Season | CSK’s Dream11 

After an exciting three-month-long, eighteenth edition of the Indian Premier League, all eyes are now on the next season, IPL 2026. One team that has not performed well in the last couple of seasons is the talk of the town right now, especially regarding the trade involving a particular player. Chennai Super Kings, which have not been performing well in the last two seasons since they promoted Ruturaj Gaikwad as their new captain after Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to limit his role in the team and nurture the next generation of leadership.

So in the last two seasons, the first team didn't perform well, and second growing concern about who will replace Dhoni after he retires. Now suddenly, news started emerging about CSK's interest in Sanju Samson, the current captain of the Rajasthan Royals. The team is looking to trade in this star Indian keeper from the Rajasthan Royals. Keeping this in mind, if it happens, we will consider creating a Dream11 team that could change CSK’s fate next year. Today, we will discuss what could be CSK's best XI in the upcoming season, also known as their Dream Team XI.

CSK’s IPL 2025 Squad

CSK’s Foundation: The Core Player

The CSK team already has a proven set of players who performed well in the recent season and will form the core for the next season and beyond. There are players like captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Noor Ahmed, and Sam Curran who will be forming the core of the team next season.

There were also some new additions last year who are likely to continue and play a big role in the upcoming season. Young players like Ayush Mhatre, Dewald, and Anshul Kamboj are expected to be part of the playing XI and contribute significantly. Players like the Bravis and Mhatre impressed everyone with their performance and given the fact they are so young they could form the next generation core of the CSK. CSK is a team known for not making significant changes every year and for trying to preserve its core, and this set of players fits very well with that CSK ideology.

IPL 2026: New Season, New Players

There are several players whom CSK could be eyeing in the upcoming auction and through trades. According to analysis, three players will be on CSK's radar for the upcoming auction, and if acquired, they would make CSK one of the best teams for the upcoming season. This includes one batter, one bowler, and one all-rounder. 

Sanju Samson 

We all know that news about Sanju Samson's trade acquisition spreads constantly. However, we can confirm from our sources that there are no official negotiations currently taking place for Sanju Samson. Recently, CSK officials mentioned that the team would like to have Sanju if there is a chance. Still, there are no formal talks of negotiation happening right now. Meanwhile, we also learn that multiple teams are interested in trading for Sanju Samson and have already sent early formal messages to the Rajasthan Royals' management, which were discussed in the recent RR meeting in London.

While on the stats side, Sanju has been one of the best wicketkeepers in the last decade in the IPL, and this is the reason behind his high demand for the upcoming season. Below are stats of his performance so far.

Mark Wood

The next player who could be on CSK's radar is star English pacer Mark Wood. Wood, who is well known for his fast bowling, regularly clocks over 145 km/h and even touches 150 km/h, has been very lethal in the shortest form of cricket over the last few years. However, there are some injury issues with the Wood, which is why he missed the IPL 2025 season. Nevertheless, he is now expected to be fit for the next season. Wood’s addition to CSK's squad could be monumental, as he can be very effective on the Chepauk pitch with his raw pace, creating trouble for batters.

Shardul Thakur 

The third player who could be a target for CSK next season is former player Shardul Thakur. Thakur, who went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, was later signed by Lucknow Super Giants due to Mohsin Khan's injury, replacing him for the season. Thakur, who was trying to prove himself during the season, performed exceptionally well and was one of the team's best bowlers. Given his recent season performance and overall form, he could be in high demand for the next season, and CSK, having previous experience with him, would likely look to acquire him again.

IPL 2026: CSK’s Dream Playing XI