CSK have replaced Ayush Mhatre with Akash Madhwal for IPL 2026. Mhatre is out due to a hamstring injury and will miss the rest of the season (recovery 6–12 weeks). He was CSK’s top scorer with 201 runs in 6 innings.
Madhwal joins CSK at his base price of INR 30 lakh. He is a right-arm fast bowler from Uttarakhand. He made impact in IPL 2023 with MI, taking 14 wickets in 8 matches with good economy. His best performance was 5 wickets for 5 runs against LSG in an eliminator.
But after that, his form dropped. In IPL 2024 he took only 5 wickets in 5 games. In 2025 with RR, he got 4 wickets in 4 matches. So he went unsold in IPL 2026 auction. He has played 17 IPL matches overall with 23 wickets and an economy around 10.
CSK are already dealing with many injuries. Dhoni is still not played yet, Khaleel Ahmed is out, and Nathan Ellis is also ruled out for the season.
Akash Madhwal Joins CSK in IPL 2026 After Strong IPL 2023 Breakthrough
Akash Madhwal is a right-arm fast bowler from Uttarakhand. He was earlier a net bowler for RCB in IPL 2021 but did not get a squad chance. He joined Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022 as a replacement player. He got his real IPL chance in 2023 when MI had injuries to key pacers like Bumrah and Archer.
His best season was IPL 2023. He took 14 wickets in 8 matches. The biggest moment was the Eliminator vs LSG where he took 5 wickets for 5 runs. It was the first 5-wicket haul in an IPL playoff match and also one of the best bowling figures by an Indian in IPL history.
In IPL 2024, he played 5 matches and took only 5 wickets. MI then released him before IPL 2025 auction. He was picked by Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.2 crore for IPL 2025.
Now he has joined CSK in IPL 2026 as replacement for Ayush Mhatre.
Why was Ayush Mhatre ruled out of IPL 2026?
Ayush Mhatre was ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a left hamstring injury. He got injured on April 18 while batting against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He was running between the wickets when he felt pain and had to get treatment on the field. He tried to continue but got worse and was out soon after.
His recovery time is 6 to 12 weeks, so he will miss the rest of the season. He was CSK’s top run-scorer this season with 201 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate of 177.87. He also had 2 fifties and was in good form before the injury.
CSK has named Akash Mashwal as a replacement. This is a big setback for CSK because their batting is already struggling and other injuries are also there. CSK are sitting 8th on the table after 6 matches with only 2 wins.
FAQs
Q. Why is Ayush Mhatre out of IPL 2026?
A. Ayush Mhatre suffered a left hamstring injury while batting against SRH on April 18. He now has been ruled out for the season.
Q. How long is Ayush Mhatre expected to be out?
A. Ayush Mhatre needs around 6 to 12 weeks for recovery. So he will miss the rest of IPL 2026.
Q. Who replaced Ayush Mhatre in CSK?
A. Chennai Super Kings signed Akash Madhwal as his replacement.
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