excitement about the upcoming indian premier league 2026 Development continues as teams finalize their combinations for what promises to be another blockbuster season. Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings enter the tournament with a much-revised team and a new tactical direction.
The franchise made headlines by making a massive trade for Sanju Samson, signaling the creation of a new era around youth and aggressive cricket. with the captain Ruturaj GaikwadAfter a disappointing campaign last season, the franchise is placing strong faith in the young core to lead its revival.
As the discussion regarding team combination intensifies, former Indian all-rounder and coach Sanjay Bangar Now he has shared his thoughts on what he believes could be the ideal batting order for CSK in the upcoming season.
Sanjay Bangar outlines CSK’s probable batting order
Speaking on Star Sports, Bangar stressed that Gaikwad should continue to open the innings, insisting that the CSK skipper has given his best performances at the top of the order. According to Bangar, the team had experimented last season by breaking the opening partnership of Gaikwad and devon conwayHope to strengthen the middle order. However, he believes that this approach did not yield the desired results.
“Ruturaj Gaikwad should bat at the top of the order only. Last year, he tried to separate Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad so that the entire cream is not at the top. However, that thought process did not give him success. Ruturaj Gaikwad has played his best cricket at the top of the order,” Bangar said.
The former India batting coach suggested that Gaikwad should open with promising youngster Ayush Mhatre, creating an aggressive opening pair capable of setting the tone in the powerplay. Bangar also favored placing Samson at No. 3, a role that could allow the dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman to stabilize the innings while maintaining a high scoring rate.
Lower down the order, Bangar believes the explosive Dewald Brevis should occupy the No. 4 spot, providing attacking intent in the middle overs. He said that depending on the match situation and team balance, the No. 5 spot could be filled by all-rounder Shivam Dubey or young batsman Karthik Sharma.
Bangar also said that CSK have great batting depth this season, which has allowed them to adopt a more aggressive approach than in previous campaigns.
“He plays very well there, and Ayush Mhatre plays with him. I see Sanju Samson playing at No. 3. Dewald Brevis will play at No. 4. At No. 5, either Shivam Dubey or Karthik Sharma could come in. As far as adopting new approaches is concerned, I think this team has a lot of strength in the batting department.” Bangar added.
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High expectations from the five-time champion
CSK is entering IPL 2026 with a clear redemption story after finishing bottom of the points table in 2025. The franchise has taken bold steps to rebuild its squad, moving from seasoned veterans to a dynamic group of young Indian talents. The blockbuster trade for Samson is expected to play a key role in revamping CSK’s batting lineup. The wicketkeeper-batsman is likely to share the responsibility with Gaikwad in shaping the team’s top order and guiding the team through high-pressure situations.
Fans are also curious to see what the untapped possibilities are like Prashant Veer And Karthik Sharma perform in the absence of longtime veterans such as Ravindra Jadeja. His emergence could define the success of CSK’s youth-driven rebuild. Meanwhile, the presence of the legendary icon ms dhoni Continues to provide invaluable leadership within the team. Although Dhoni is expected to operate primarily as a finisher or tactical impact player, his experience remains a key asset for CSK to win a record sixth IPL title.
CSK’s campaign begins with a high-profile clash against Rajasthan Royals on March 30, a match that could offer the first glimpse of how their new-look lineup performs under pressure.
Also read: Mohit Sharma reveals his all-time CSK playing XI ahead of IPL 2026
