Chennai Super Kings’ left-arm quick Khaleel Ahmed is expected to be ruled out for the remainder of IPL 2026 after an injury picked up during the recent phase of the season. The setback adds to the strain on a squad already managing multiple absences, and it also raises the chances that younger options will be asked to play a bigger role in the coming matches.
Khaleel had stopped in his run-up during CSK’s previous encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai on April 14. He left the field after completing only five deliveries of what was his final over, with rookie Gurjapneet Singh stepping in to finish the over. With the injury now threatening his availability beyond that point, Gurjapneet may have to carry added responsibility, especially in overs where CSK usually lean on experienced seamers.
The concern over Khaleel compounds CSK’s current injury list, which already includes MS Dhoni and Nathan Ellis. Dhoni is in the recovery process from a calf problem, and his return timeline has been pushed past the initial expectation of a short layoff. On March 28, the opening day of the season, CSK had indicated in a statement that Dhoni was “likely to miss the first two weeks” while he underwent rehabilitation. Although Dhoni has been training alongside his teammates, his work has been limited to throwdowns rather than full match intensity, suggesting he is not yet ready for the demands of competitive cricket.
Ellis, meanwhile, has been sidelined for the entire season. His planned replacement, Spencer Johnson, is also still working his way back from injury and has not yet joined CSK fully.
With Khaleel potentially unavailable, Mukesh Choudhary and Ramakrishna Ghosh are among the names being considered to fill the seam-bowling slot. Choudhary, a left-arm pace option, could offer a like-for-like adjustment to CSK’s bowling balance. Ghosh, however, is a right-arm quick and brings a different dimension, with the added ability to contribute with the bat when required.
Ghosh’s form has been one of the standout stories from the 2025-26 domestic campaign in Maharashtra. During the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, he produced his best List A performance for the team when he returned 7 for 42 against Himachal Pradesh in Jaipur, the highest bowling figures for his side in an innings across the competition. He also delivered with the bat in the same tournament, striking an unbeaten 64 off 27 balls against Mumbai.
CSK currently sit with two wins from their first five matches and will look to steady their momentum with their next outing against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on Saturday.
