In the run-up to the IPL 2026 auction, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has pulled off some major moves. They have swapped in Sanju Samson before the retention deadline and sent out Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran among others. The CSK roster 2026 also saw Matheesha Pathirana being released, who was an essential player for the team for three years.
Prior to the 2025 mega auction, Pathirana was handpicked by the CSK team which spent a whopping INR 13 crore on him. However, the Sri Lankan player had a tough time in the tournament and was not able to get back his earlier form. He was their top pacer, and it seems very unlikely that they will be able to buy him back in the auction at a cheaper price.
We are now going to discuss three players that Chennai Super Kings might go for at the IPL 2026 auction, to replace Matheesha Pathirana.
Anrich Nortje
Anrich Nortje was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the last edition. Unfortunately, he could manage to play only two matches as he was facing both injury and form issues. In those two outings, the bowler got to pick one wicket while conceding runs at almost 12. This scenario led KKR to release him. Now with Pathirana gone, CSK is on the lookout for an international quick.
Anrich Nortje might be one of the players on the CSK radar for the IPL 2026 auction. The South African star has recently returned from injury and seems to be in perfect sync. He has bagged 11 wickets in eight games in the CSA T20 Challenge at an average of 7.47 runs per over. CSK could do well with Nortje.
Matt Henry
The other overseas pacer who CSK can eye for is no one but Matt Henry. The Kiwi pacer has been performing excellently in all formats and all over the world. Henry that good a bowler in the shorter format that he will be among the CSK target players for the mini auction.
This year Matt Henry has been a T20cricket sensation. He has accomplished taking a total of 45 wickets from 28 innings in the format this year with a brilliant economy of 7.33. The new ball has always been a plus for him but he is a much better bowler now in other phases as well.
Gerald Coetzee
Gerald Coetzee was part of the Gujarat Titans squad in the previous season but fell into the list of GT released players 2026. The fast bowler from South Africa was signed by the franchise for INR 2.40 crore. He got to play only four matches in the season and got two wickets at a costly rate of 10.91.
However, given the limited number of top pacers in the market, Coetzee could turn out to be one of the better options. He has been with CSK’s sister franchise in SA20, Joburg Super Kings. This link between them makes Coetzee one of the players targeted by CSK in the IPL 2026 auction.