IPL 2026: BCCI Confirms Spencer Johnson Replaces Nathan Ellis in CSK Squad

Chennai Super Kings replaced Nathan Ellis with Spencer Johnson for IPL 2026. Nathan Ellis has been ruled out from the IPL 2026 due to a hamstring injury. In his place, Australian pacer Spencer Johnson has joined the CSK team for IPL 2026.

CSK Signs Spencer Johnson as Replacement for Nathan Ellis

Nathan Ellis got injured in a training session last week, so CSK took a replacement for him. There were few talks about Ottniel Baartman, but in the final, CSK signed Spencer Johnson for ₹1.50 crore. Earlier, He went unsold in the auction and in the earlier years he played for KKR and Gujarat Titans but didn’t have great performances for the teams in the IPL history.

Nathan Ellis missing the whole season is a biggest setback for CSK. He is very good in middle and death overs, and the team doesn’t have a proper replacement for that role to fulfill that position to bowl middle and death overs.

Other fast bowlers like Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed, and Anshul Kamboj are new-ball bowlers. Jamie Overton can bowl in the middle overs but is not strong in death overs.

Gurjapneet Singh may be key option for death overs, but he has no IPL experience yet. CSK can use him as an impact player, but it’s still a risky choice for them. Overall, CSK will need to change their bowling plans, especially in the last few overs.