Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Robin Uthappa has weighed in on the franchise’s strategy for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, predicting they will target two specific international all-rounders.
CSK have already enacted the largest squad reset among all franchises, releasing a staggering total of 11 players, including prominent overseas stars like Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra and the traded Sam Curran. This extensive purge has equipped the Super Kings with a strong purse of INR 43.4 crore, giving them significant financial power to rebuild their squad. Uthappa’s predictions point toward CSK utilizing this deep purse to acquire high-impact overseas all-rounders, aligning with the franchise’s historical preference for multi-utility players.
Robin Uthappa’s two overseas targets for CSK in the IPL 2026 auction
Robin Uthappa specifically named two international all-rounders who he believes CSK’s management, led by head coach Stephen Fleming, will aggressively pursue at the IPL 2026 auction to bolster their squad. These players, both recently released by their former teams, offer the kind of multi-faceted skills that Chennai has traditionally valued.
- Glenn Maxwell (Australian All-rounder): Uthappa believes CSK will target Maxwell, who has been released by Punjab Kings (PBKS). He cited head coach Stephen Fleming’s preference for the Australian, stating: “I know that Stephen Fleming likes Maxwell, so they might go after him.” Uthappa suggested that CSK is uniquely positioned to handle the star, claiming: “He could go there, and I think only they (CSK) can handle his personality.” Despite Maxwell’s disastrous season with the bat last year, scoring just 48 runs across six innings, Uthappa argued that his value to CSK would primarily be as a bowler. He concluded: “I consider Maxwell a bowler more than a batter, especially in the IPL, because he has faltered a lot. But as a bowler, he has been quite consistent. I think his utility as a bowler will be a lot more. If he clicks as a batter, it would be a blast.”
- Liam Livingstone (English All-rounder): Former batter Mohammad Kaif, echoing Uthappa’s strategic thinking for CSK, also named a second high-impact all-rounder, Livingstone (released by RCB), as a likely target. Kaif advised CSK to target both: “So they will go behind the likes of Livingstone and Maxwell.” Kaif explained that Livingstone, who is an explosive middle-order batter and a handy spinner, would perfectly suit the Chepauk pitch: “Livingstone will also suit Chennai. He could become their sixth bowler who bats at five.” He added that the team’s historical success comes from relying on deep batting and all-rounders: “CSK have a history of batting deep and looking at all-rounders. Overton played because he can bat, same with Curran. Bravo played so many years as he was an all-rounder, Albie Morkel as well.”
Dismal IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings’ disappointing last-place finish
The 2025 season marked the worst campaign in CSK’ illustrious history, as the team finished at the bottom of the table (10th place) for the first time ever since the league’s inception. The five-time champions recorded a dismal record of only four wins from 14 matches and were the first side to be officially eliminated from playoff contention. The campaign unravelled further when appointed captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out mid-season with an elbow injury, forcing MS Dhoni to step in as stand-in skipper, though even his leadership could not halt the slide.
The team’s batting was a major concern, registering the lowest Powerplay run rate of 8.70 across the league. Key overseas openers, Devon Conway (156 runs in six innings) and Rachin Ravindra (191 runs in eight innings), suffered a sharp decline in returns compared to previous seasons. Furthermore, CSK suffered a historic low by losing five home matches at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. This disappointing performance led directly to the franchise initiating a massive squad reset and high-profile trades ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
