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Ravichandran Ashwin suggested massive changes at CSK that could make them a formidable side after their poor IPL 2026 season.
The former CSK spinner suggested three key names that CSK could bring into the team combination in IPL 2027 to significantly improve their team balance.
Of the three names he took, two are former CSK players, while one is heavily speculated to be joining the franchise next year.
CSK in IPL 2026
In IPL 2026, the Chennai franchise finished eighth on the points table, barely an improvement from the last-place finish in IPL 2025.
In the middle, CSK looked like they could do something special this season, but the beginning and the end tore their season apart.
CSK’s season had a middle phase where they won 6 matches out of 8 and had a slight chance at making the playoffs. Unfortunately, this phase was sandwiched in between two different losing streaks of three matches each.
Ultimately, the Chennai Super Kings finished with 6 wins in 14 matches and have now gone three years in a row without making the top four.
Ashwin suggests CSK go for Stokes, Pathirana, and Hardik
Taking to X (Formerly Twitter), Ravichandran Ashwin said that three players could help revitalise the franchise.
The spinner was replying to a fan asking whether or not the Super Kings should look to buy back Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana in case his current franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders, released him back into the auction pool.
Ashwin replied in the affirmative and suggested that CSK should onboard England Test captain Ben Stokes as well.
In his reply, Ashwin wrote, “Pathirana, 07:07 & Stokes ! Opening ✓ Dube & 07:07 MiddleOrder/Finishing ✓ Overton & Stokes Balance ✓”.
07:07 is most likely a reference to Hardik Pandya, who recently uploaded an Instagram story with his phone screen showing those numbers.
Pathirana, 07:07 & Stokes !
Opening✅
Dube & 07:07 MiddleOrder/Finishing✅
Overton & Stokes Balance✅ https://t.co/kSALlKQDCp— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) May 26, 2026
CSK’s next plan
Ultimately, there has been a lot of speculation over what moves CSK might play before the start of IPL 2027.
If the reports and rumours are to be believed, Ruturaj Gaikwad could be out on his way as skipper. There is reportedly pressure on both him and Head Coach Stephen Fleming over the franchise’s declining performances.
Former skipper MS Dhoni did not play any matches this year, and there has been much speculation over whether he will return. In 2026, the official reason was a calf strain followed by a thumb injury.
But reports suggested many things about his absence. Some claimed that he had already retired, while others claimed that he was phasing himself out. One report even claimed that Dhoni had fallen out with the franchise and did not play even after being fully fit.
Viral videos of Hardik Pandya meeting with CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan also fuelled rumours that Pandya might be headed to Chennai after he led the Mumbai Indians to a second-from-bottom finish this year.
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