IPL 2026: ‘CSK will go for Iyer first’ - Ashwin breaks down franchise’s auction plan

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has offered an in-depth breakdown of Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) strategy ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, emphasising their clear intent to rebuild after a disappointing previous season. With a strong purse of INR 43.40 crore, CSK is expected to pursue targeted acquisitions, especially following the withdrawal of key overseas players like Glenn Maxwell.

Ashwin highlighted that the franchise’s priority would be securing an Indian all-rounder, most likely Venkatesh Iyer, followed by an overseas all-rounder, with Liam Livingstone identified as a key option.

“CSK’s first priority will be Venkatesh Iyer. They would have thought of Maxwell in the other slot. Now that he’s out, it’ll be Livingstone,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Iyer endured an underwhelming IPL 2025 season with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) despite his massive INR 23.75 crore price tag in the previous mega-auction. He has now entered the upcoming auction with the highest base price of INR 2 crore. Meanwhile, Livingstone, released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has rediscovered his form in the International League T20 2025, making him one of the most sought-after overseas options.

CSK created financial flexibility by releasing players such as Matheesha Pathirana, while Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement from the IPL added a further INR 9 crore to their purse. Ashwin described the decision to let Pathirana go as a calculated move, stressing that it was designed to free up funds to pursue marquee all-rounders in the auction.

“Most teams felt Andre Russell would be in the auction even before release. With that in mind, CSK wanted to pick Russell or Cameron Green. But they had no chance with 30 crores, and hence, Matheesha Pathirana looked like a very obvious release,” Ashwin said.

The need for a major strategic overhaul, as highlighted by Ashwin, arises directly from CSK’s disastrous 2025 campaign, one of the most disappointing seasons in the franchise’s illustrious history. Despite the team’s overall struggles, a few players stood out, with Shivam Dube emerging as their leading run-scorer and Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad topping the bowling charts with 24 wickets.