Chennai Super Kings ended the IPL 2026 campaign in eighth place, finishing outside the playoff bracket after a season that never really found its footing. The side’s hopes were kept alive in spells by standout contributions, including strong showings from Sanju Samson and others, but the overall results were not enough.
CSK eventually wound up with 12 points from 16 matches, a tally that reflected both missed opportunities and problems that cropped up at key stages. Even with moments of promise, they could not translate individual performances into a sustained run to qualify for the knockouts.
Quick facts
- CSK finished eighth in the IPL 2026 points table.
- Chennai scored 12 points from 16 matches and missed the playoffs.
- Ravichandran Ashwin praised Sanju Samson, Akeal Hosein and Anshul Kamboj, but called for changes to auction strategy.
- Ashwin criticised how teams used funds to pick Venkatesh Iyer and Jason Holder for ₹7 crore each.
- Stephen Fleming said MS Dhoni did not play IPL 2026 but remained influential within the squad.
Ashwin’s take on auctions, roles and decision-making
Former CSK player Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted what he believes needs reworking at the auction table. He stated that auction strategies must be revisited, arguing that teams should think more carefully about the mix of experience and emerging talent rather than simply filling slots.
In Ashwin’s view, the approach to buying players was flawed when two teams selected Venkatesh Iyer and Jason Holder for ₹7 crore each and then treated the final combination as a settled plan. He suggested that instead of spending ₹14 crore on two separate picks, franchises could have targeted those two players to build a more balanced blend of youth and senior know-how.
Ashwin also pointed to a lack of cohesion once the squads were formed. He said the group did not “gel” as a unit and that there were role clarity issues, which can quickly affect on-field execution in a high-pressure T20 league.
On another front, he noted the impact of injuries, describing how other squads suffered setbacks even before the season began, while CSK’s problems extended after the tournament started. He stressed that, despite the best efforts of the team, they were unable to overcome the injury concerns that kept resurfacing.
Ashwin further criticised how roles were assigned during matches. He said CSK gave the wrong insertion points to several players, and that the decision-making became tilted when they used Brevis and Dube as finishers, implying the batting plan lacked balance.
Fleming on Dhoni’s influence despite missing the tournament
CSK head coach Stephen Fleming addressed another key storyline from IPL 2026: MS Dhoni’s absence from the playing XI. While Dhoni did not feature in any IPL 2026 match, Fleming said the veteran wicketkeeper-batter continued to have a major effect on the team.
Fleming explained that Dhoni, who is 44 years old and had injuries, missed the entire tournament. Still, he said the former captain remained closely involved with the franchise and continued to shape proceedings, especially when it came to mentoring younger players and keeping continuity within the squad.
At the post-match press conference, Fleming said Dhoni had been around “a lot this year,” calling it important for both the team and the young players. He added that even without playing, Dhoni’s influence remained significant, reinforcing that leadership and continuity were maintained from the sidelines.
