IPL 2026: CSK rope in Akash Madhwal as a replacement for injured Ayush Mhatre ahead of MI clash

IPL 2026: CSK rope in Akash Madhwal as a replacement for injured Ayush Mhatre ahead of MI clash

IPL 2026: CSK rope in Akash Madhwal as a replacement for injured Ayush Mhatre ahead of MI clash Photograph: (AFP)

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The former Rajasthan Royals star Akash Madhwal is available for selection against another one of his former side Mumbai Indians, as CSK play the high-voltage clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have roped in Akash Madhwal as a replacement for injured Ayush Mhatre for the remainder of the season. Mhatre, ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 due to a hamstring injury, will now be replaced by Madhwal. The former Rajasthan Royals star is available for selection against another one of his former side Mumbai Indians, as CSK play the high-voltage clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

CSK announce Mhatre replacement

Madhwal, a right-arm fast bowler, has previously represented the Mumbai Indians (MI) (2023, 2024) and the Rajasthan Royals (2025). He has featured in 17 IPL matches, picking up 23 wickets. He also has a five-wicket haul to his name, having recorded sensational figures of 5/5 in his debut season for MI in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants.

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Mhatre, India’s U19 World Cup-winning captain, made an impactful start to the season for CSK, scoring two fifties in six matches before suffering a left hamstring injury while batting in Match 27 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Madhwal joins CSK for a fee of INR 30 Lakh.

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MI vs CSK on the cards

The MI and CSK, two five-time IPL-winning teams, filled with superstars to the brim, will be taking on each other in the high-octane contest at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, but the recent trends suggest that the biggest rivalry in the IPL could be losing the big-match feel and lustre attached to it.

MI would be brimming with confidence heading into the home clash against CSK following a sensational bowling performance and a century by Tilak Varma under pressure against the Gujarat Titans (GT), which earned them their second win of the season, while CSK will be aiming to get back to winning after a 10-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), which was their fourth of the season.

About the Author

Parth Seth is a research fellow at India Foundation, a New Delhi-based think tank, where he studies the themes of development, foreign policy, and multilateralism, particularly in ...Read More