"Like Cummins, Dhoni can manage him" - 1983 World Cup winner urges CSK to buy star all-rounder at IPL 2026 auction

Former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth advised the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to go after Aussie all-rounder Glenn Maxwell in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) released the veteran Australian at the IPL 2026 retention deadline.

Maxwell is coming off an underwhelming IPL 2025 campaign, averaging a dismal eight at a strike rate of under 98 in seven games. He fared even worse in his final season with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2024, averaging under six in 10 outings.

Despite the poor numbers, Srikkanth believes the presence of MS Dhoni can help Maxwell rediscover his best form with CSK.

"He's a player who needs to be guided. That's where Dhoni will prove very useful. Cummins used him very well in the 2023 World Cup when Australia won. He managed Maxwell very well. Like Cummins, Dhoni can manage him very well. If Dhoni manages Maxwell well, he can be a good choice," said Srikkanth on his YouTube channel (21:22). "He can bat at different positions and bowl three overs with brilliant fielding. I won't say he's a like to like for Jadeja. But he can somewhat fill Jadeja's place," added the former Indian captain.

CSK endured their worst-ever IPL season this year, finishing at the bottom of the standings for the first time in franchise history.

"He's a potential match-winner" - Kris Srikkanth on Glenn Maxwell

Kris Srikkanth admitted that Glenn Maxwell would be the ultimate lottery should CSK go for the Australian all-rounder in the IPL 2026 auction. However, the former captain believes the veteran can be a match-winner in the few games he performs at his best.

"A real lottery pick can be Maxwell. But he has been terrible the last two seasons. I can't remember when he last played a match-winning knock. As a cricketer, Maxwell is brilliant. But to be honest, I won't mind. Two years he did well for RCB. That time he batted in a controlled way," said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

He concluded:

"Even though he has been erratic with his performances in the recent past, he's a potential match-winner. In 14 matches, he'll perform in only four but those four he'll win single-handedly."

Maxwell has been part of the IPL for over a decade, amassing over 2,800 runs and picking up 41 wickets in 141 outings. Meanwhile, CSK have opened up a purse of ₹43.40 crore going into the IPL 2026 auction.

Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran