Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have always been one of those teams that divides opinion ahead of every IPL season. Critics write them off, fans back them unconditionally, and somewhere in between, the Yellow Army tends to quietly find a way to stay relevant.

IPL 2026 is no different. CSK finished last season at the bottom of the table, and the rebuilding work since then has been significant with new faces, new combinations, and a fresh sense of purpose in the camp. They open their campaign on March 30 against the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati.

With a new-look top order in place, many assumed the identity of the main run-scorer for CSK was fairly obvious. But Ravichandran Ashwin, never one to follow conventional thinking, has a completely different take.

Ravichandran Ashwin picks CSK’s top batter for IPL 2026

Ashwin backed Ruturaj Gaikwad over Sanju Samson as CSK’s best batter for IPL 2026. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said, “Ruturaj would be CSK’s best batter. I think he will bat at the No.3 slot. His role will be to keep the innings intact. He will play the anchor’s role while other batters will go hard against the bowlers. This is why I think he will top the batting charts for CSK.”

It is a genuinely interesting call. Samson arrives at CSK as arguably the most exciting batting acquisition of the season, being Player of the Tournament at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, with over 300 runs and three match-winning fifties to his name.

But Gaikwad’s recent form makes Ashwin’s argument hard to dismiss. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the CSK captain scored 413 runs across seven matches at an average of 82.60 and a strike rate close to 116, with two centuries and a half-century. For someone returning from an injury-hit IPL 2025 where he managed only five matches, those numbers say everything about his current mindset.

Also READ: Ruturaj Gaikwad signals new opening pair for CSK in IPL 2026

The bigger picture for CSK this season

Ashwin believes at least two of CSK’s top three batters must cross 500 runs each for the team to qualify for the playoffs. He also acknowledged that their bowling is not the strongest on paper, and the team management will need to find consistent wicket-takers, something CSK have managed before by identifying the right match-winners at the right time.

There is one more advantage Ashwin pointed out that does not show up in any squad sheet. Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc will all miss some matches during the season due to injury, meaning SRH and RCB will not be at full strength early on. If CSK can build momentum before those squads are complete, they could find themselves in a very strong position before the competition even catches up.

For a five-time champion franchise that knows how to peak when it matters, timing is everything. And if Gaikwad delivers on Ashwin’s prediction, CSK might just have enough to make a real push this season.

Also READ: BCCI announces schedule for the second phase of IPL 2026