Irfan Pathan picks CSK playing 12 after IPL 2026 auction; doesn’t have Sanju Samson as opener

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has slotted wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson at No. 3 in his predicted Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Playing XII. The IPL 2026 auction took place on Tuesday, December 16, with the five-time IPL champions focusing on uncapped talent, acquiring Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer for ₹14.2 crore each as part of a total of nine new signings.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel on Wednesday, December 17, Pathan backed skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre to open, with Samson at No. 3. His top seven also featured the high-profile new signings Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, alongside Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis.

Commenting on the uncapped duo, Pathan said:

“Chennai’s team has completely changed its philosophy. Earlier, it used to rely on experienced players, but now it is backing young players. Never before in auction history has a team spent more than ₹14 crore on a player, but in this auction, Chennai spent over ₹14 crore on two uncapped players. ₹14.20 crore each was spent on Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma. Before this, they had already brought in Sanju through a trade.” “They have tried to go for like-for-like replacements, especially in the left-arm spin all-rounder role with Prashant Veer, and in Kartik Sharma they have found a finisher who has been performing very well in domestic cricket. He has a strike rate of 160 and has hit 28 sixes in 12 matches. That is why they invested in him. The hope is that if not immediately, then in the future, he will get opportunities in such a way that he can truly shine,” he added.

Meanwhile, he slotted former captain and veteran MS Dhoni at No. 8, remarking:

“Mahendra Singh Dhoni should be at number eight, not lower, because I still feel his role becomes crucial. If he doesn’t get to bat for four overs, then the team faces problems in that crucial position.”

In the 2025 season, Dhoni played all 14 matches, scoring 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.50 with a strike rate of 135.17.

---

Irfan Pathan names Khaleel Ahmed as Impact Player in CSK Playing XII for IPL 2026

In the bowling department, Irfan Pathan slotted Haryana seamer Anshul Kamboj at No. 9. He then picked CSK’s most successful bowler from the 2025 season, Noor Ahmad, who claimed 24 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 17.00 and an economy rate of 8.16.

Pathan completed his CSK XI by selecting Australia’s Nathan Ellis, who has featured in 17 IPL matches and taken 19 wickets. For the Impact Player slot, he opted for India’s left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed.

Irfan Pathan’s CSK Playing XII: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Mhatre, Sanju Samson, Kartik Sharma, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Prashant Veer, MS Dhoni, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Nathan Ellis. Impact Player: Khaleel Ahmed.

Edited by Dev Sharma