Former India batsman Aakash Chopra believes that Chennai Super Kings will make a tactical mistake if Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson open the innings. Chopra picked CSK’s playing XI ahead of the match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Monday, March 30.
The Chennai-based franchise faced a serious injury crisis ahead of their opening match. Head coach Stephen Fleming confirmed that Dewald Brevis has suffered a side strain while MS Dhoni is out with a calf strain, leaving Chennai Super Kings’ middle-order batting depth significantly weakened.
Your problems have increased – Aakash Chopra on injuries of CSK players
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra opened up about the injury problems currently plaguing the Chennai Super Kings camp before he bowled a single ball in the tournament.
“The big question is Dewald Brevis isn’t there either. You obviously lost Dewald Brevis for the first three or four games. Spencer Johnson isn’t there either,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“You took an injured player as an injured player. Nathan Ellis has already been ruled out. MS Dhoni is not there for two weeks. Not a single ball has been bowled and your problems have increased,” he said.
Ruturaj Gaikwad should not open with Sanju Samson – Aakash Chopra
With Dewald Brevis and MS Dhoni unavailable, Aakash Chopra urged CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad to reconsider his opening position. Chopra suggested that young batsman Ayush Mhatre should open the innings with Samson. Earlier, Ruturaj had confirmed that he will open the batting with Sanju Samson.
Chopra said, “Since Dewald Brevis is no longer, your XI will automatically change, but your order should also change. Ruturaj Gaikwad should not open with Sanju Samson now. Make Ayush Mhatre open with Sanju Samson and bring Ruturaj at No. 3. I think you will be doing a mistake if you still open with Ruturaj and Sanju.”
Chopra said that retaining the opening combination of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson will leave CSK’s middle-order inexperienced. The analyst said that after the openers, Shivam Dubey will remain the only senior batsman.
Chopra said, “Then you will have Mhatre, Urvil Patel or Sarfaraz Khan, and you will have Dube as the only senior player after the openers in the entire batting order. You don’t want that to happen. So I think something should be changed. Captain, come in at No. 3.”
Aakash Chopra’s CSK Probable Playing 11 for IPL 2026 vs RR: Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan/Urvil Patel, Shivam Dubey, Karthik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmed, Khaleel Ahmed, Matt Henry
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