IPL 2026: Mohammad Kaif Offers Suggestion To CSK Ahead of Auction

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif made some suggestions to the Chennai Super Kings as to who should they target at the IPL 2026 auction. CSK let go of 12 players and retained 16 and accumulated a purse of Rs 43.40 crore ahead of the auction. Kaif reckoned that CSK could look at English all-rounder Liam Livingstone who can bowl some off-spin and be their hard-hitting batter at number 5. Livingstone was released by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Mohammad Kaif added that Chennai could also go after Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who could play a similar role as Livingstone. Kaif reflected that Maxwell’s off-spin could be of more value at Chepauk, where spinners find assistance off the surface. Kaif also highlighted how the five-time champions have always valued all-rounders over the years, naming the likes of Dwayne Bravo and Albie Morkel. As they traded out Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to the Rajasthan Royals for Sanju Samson, they would require all-rounders to fill those gaps.

Mohammad Kaif gives his views on Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell playing for CSK. 

Speaking on his own You Tube channel, Mohammad Kaif said: “Livingstone will also suit Chennai. He could become their sixth bowler who bats at five. Dhoni does not come up the order now, so they need batters. CSK have a history of batting deep and looking at all-rounders. Overton played because he can bat, same with Curran. Bravo played so many years as he was an all-rounder, Albie Morkel as well. So they will go behind the likes of Livingstone and Maxwell. Maxwell’s value may have gone down but I feel he will do well if he goes there. He can bowl off-spin with the new ball. He has done it for RCB too. At a ground like Chennai, his bowling will have more value.” 

Chennai Super Kings released the likes of Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, and Vijay Shankar and Kaif reckoned that they would also need batters in the middle. He believed they also require a bowling all-rounder and could thus go after Andre Russell who was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Kaif further reflected that: “I feel CSK could go after David Miller. There is Abhinav Manohar as well for the number five/six slot. They had the likes of Rahul Tripathi and Vijay Shankar who did not do well. So they will look at guys who can fill in here. They already have some fixed players. Samson and Mhatre will open, Gaikwad at three, Brevis at four, Dube at five, Russell at six if they can get him or Maxwell. Dhoni is there too so they have batters. They will need a spinner, a bowling all-rounder and might also look at a good opener if possible.” 

CSK finished at the bottom of the table last year and will therefore, aim to build a strong side this time around and bounce back.

Mohammad Kaif believes CSK will go for Andre Russell and Cameron Green than go back to Matheesha Pathirana. 

Chennai Super Kings also released Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana who struggled with his accuracy last season. Mohammad Kaif reckoned that CSK would target all-rounders like Andre Russell, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green as a priority. Kaif expressed that they would only explore the possibility of bringing back Pathirana at a lesser price if they failed to get any of the aforementioned all-rounders at the auction.

Mohammad Kaif said: “If they have money left and do not get Russell or Maxwell, then they might look to get Pathirana back. The point of leaving players is to have the purse in the auction to fight for some specific players. That is why they released him. They will not put a lot of money on him, maybe they can get him later if they don’t get anyone. Green is also needed so he could be an option too, they can run behind him. They will value the likes of Green and Russell more over Pathirana.” 

Matheesha Pathirana was retained for Rs 13 crore for IPL 2025. However, he managed to pick up just 13 wickets from 12 games at an average of 32.61 and an economy of 10.13.

It remains to be seen who CSK targets and gets in the IPL Auction 2026 which will be held on 16th December in Abu Dhabi.

Also Read: IPL 2026: Ravindra Jadeja-Sanju Samson Historic Trade