"Will go behind Maxwell" - Former India batter's bold prediction on CSK's strategy for IPL 2026 Auction

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif outlined Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) strategy for the IPL 2026 auction. He made a bold prediction that the franchise would look to rope in Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

Maxwell was released by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) after a poor performance in IPL 2025. He scored just 48 runs from six innings at a strike-rate of 97.95. Along with Maxwell, Kaif also reckoned that they would also go after David Miller and Andre Russell, who were released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), respectively. Chennai need a power hitter and finisher lower down the order.

"CSK will go behind Maxwell. They can target Russell as well. There are good players they can go after. Maxwell, Miller, and Russell - they will definitely go after these three. There is no Jadeja so they need someone at five/six and a spinner so Maxwell could fit in," he said on his YouTube channel.

Further, Kaif expressed that the five-time champions could also be interested in looking at wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi. While there are many spinners available at the auction, the former batter stated that Indian spinners would have more buyers than foreign spinners in the IPL.

"Bishnoi could go to CSK. I think it will be difficult for Zampa as franchises are backing Indian players. Rahul Chahar may not get a lot of money. Karn Sharma could do well, maybe he is ahead of Chahar. He could go to SRH as they released Zampa. I am looking at him. Theekshana and Hasaranga also got released. So foreign spinners may not attract a lot of money, unless you are someone like Narine."

With Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja both not present, Chennai will have to revamp their spin department. They will enter the auction with a purse of ₹43.40 crore.

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PBKS should not have released Maxwell ahead of IPL 2026 auction, believes Kaif

PBKS had acquired Maxwell for ₹4.20 crore ahead of the 2025 season. Following his underwhelming display, he was released ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. However, Mohamamd Kaif reckoned that Punjab should have held on to Maxwell.

He added that they required a fifth or sixth bowler, and Maxwell could give them those overs in the middle. Given his ability to win games on his day, Kaif stated that PBKS could have taken the gamble at a price of just ₹4.20 crore.

"PBKS will need a fifth or sixth bowler. That was the only thing they lacked. They should not have released Maxwell. It was not too much of a loss at his price. He is such a player on whom you take a risk. He can win games if he gets going, if not, he even bowls well anyway. Maxwell fits well where you need some bowling and he can win games on his day with the bat," he said.

In the IPL, Maxwell has picked up 41 wickets at an average of 34.46 and an economy of 8.29. Overall in T20s, he has bagged 194 scalps at an average of 29.79 and an economy of 7.86.

Edited by Rishab Vm