Jamie Overton’s early IPL journey didn’t exactly begin with fireworks. In the 2025 season, he found himself in a lopsided team picture, featuring in only three matches. In two of those appearances, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) asked him to operate in the powerplay—an assignment he hadn’t really grown into as a T20 bowler, despite the role being central to how many teams set their early overs. The contrast is clear: his twin brother, Craig Overton, is known for being a genuine powerplay specialist in the shortest format.
By IPL 2026, that uncertainty has largely vanished. With a clearer understanding of when and how he fits into CSK’s plans, Overton has turned into a reliable match-impact option. Out of his 28 overs in the tournament so far, 18 have been sent down in the middle phase, spanning overs seven through 16. In that stretch, he has grabbed ten wickets while keeping things tight at an economy rate of 7.61. Only Rashid Khan (13) and Noor Ahmad (12) have taken more wickets than Overton during overs seven to 16 in IPL 2026.
On Sunday, Overton’s value was on full display as he curbed a dangerous batting display from Josh Inglis and Rishabh Pant. By bowling hard lengths at a high pace on a red-soil pitch, he forced Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) into a slowdown. Earlier that same day, when the ball sat up enough for the batters, Inglis had produced reverse-ramped shots that sent Mukesh Choudhary and Anshul Kamboj over the ropes for six. Against Overton, though, that rhythm didn’t repeat, and the tempo shifted in CSK’s favour.
After CSK’s win over LSG in Chennai, Overton admitted that last season was a difficult chapter. “Obviously, last year didn’t go too well for me,” he said. “Bowling in a phase that I’ve not necessarily bowled in—it’s not one I’ve done a massive amount of. So, that was a learning experience. I’m still developing that part of my game, working on it with Eric [Simons, CSK bowling coach] outside of the matches. But what I’ve been doing for three or four years is bowling in the middle and executing that, plus taking the odd over at the end.”
He also explained the mindset behind his spellcraft. “For me, it’s really about doing the basic things well—hitting the top of the stumps, mixing in the occasional short ball and the occasional slower one, and keeping it as simple as I can. A lot of work has gone into my lines, and mainly the lines,” Overton added.
This season, Overton has even pushed his pace up to around 150kph. Still, he is clear-eyed about what pace can and cannot do on Indian surfaces. On flat, batter-friendly tracks where teams look to hit through the line, raw speed alone isn’t enough.
“Pace can be good, and it can also be bad at the same time,” Overton said. “If you don’t get it right, it goes a long way in the wrong direction. Batters aren’t as scared of pace anymore either. The wickets are so good now—they’re so true—and batters are playing some really solid shots. They’ve adjusted, but you still have to have control.”
Overton pointed to his own development goals dating back to the T20 World Cup, particularly the challenges of bowling in India. “Going back to the World Cup, that was one thing I wanted to improve—especially bowling over here in India,” he said. “It’s very different bowling here than anywhere else in the world. I feel like I’ve got to bowl a bit fuller. The Indian batters are excellent at going behind square on the off side, so you have to be extremely accurate with the line you choose. There’s a lot of planning about where I want to execute and where I’m going to land the ball.”
For his improved outcomes this season, Overton also gave credit to the people around him, highlighting CSK’s team management and the relaxed culture that sits underneath it. “The first thing about the set-up: CSK is a phenomenal place to play for,” he said. “Chennai is a great franchise to be involved with. It’s a real family vibe. Every time—last year too, even when I turned up—it felt like home straight away. This year, it felt exactly the same.”
His animated fist pumps have become a familiar sight at Chepauk, and they’ve helped him connect quickly with the crowd—so much so that he is arguably CSK’s most popular overseas player this season. “No, fans don’t chant my name in England—not quite like it,” Overton said. “The fact the fans have got behind me and it feels like they’re showing me love—it’s amazing. The Chennai, the Chepauk crowd, it’s phenomenal. They’re very intelligent and knowledgeable about cricket. Having your name called out in the stands is a fantastic feeling.”
With CSK’s pace resources appearing stretched at certain points—especially after injuries to Nathan Ellis and Khaleel Ahmed—Overton has added both bite and energy to the attack. He has provided the team with extra muscle while also bringing plenty of hustle, reinforcing why CSK’s bowling plans have looked sharper in IPL 2026.
