3 major concerns for CSK ahead of IPL 2026 opener against RR

CSK will clash with RR in their opening game of IPL 2026.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their opening game of the Indian Premier League 2026, which will take place on March 30 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

The five-time champions will aim for a big comeback after a poor performance last season, where they finished in the last spot in the points table. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been retained as CSK captain in IPL 2026 and will open the batting with Sanju Samson.

Although the Super Kings have developed a strong squad for IPL 2026, a few issues might hamper them during the tournament. Below are 3 major concerns for CSK ahead of IPL 2026 opener against RR.

Concerns for CSK ahead of IPL 2026 opener-

3. Inexperienced pace attack

The Super Kings lack big pacers in their squad for IPL 2026. Nathan Ellis has been ruled out due to an injury, and his replacement, Spencer Johnson, will join the squad next month. The latter also lacks experience in international cricket and the IPL.

Matt Henry will add depth in the pace department; however, the Men-in-Yellow are short of experienced domestic pacers. Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh, and Anshul Kamboj are a few Indian pacers in their squad. However, none of them has good experience in the Indian team.

2. MS Dhoni’s absence

Due to a calf strain, MS Dhoni is going to miss two weeks of action in IPL 2026. He might also take more time to return to the field. Dhoni provides strength to the batting with his hard-hitting approach in the lower order.

Moreover, he also guides Gaikwad in captaincy with his tactics. He is a great mentor for the youngsters, and his absence will definitely affect the team’s mindset at the start.

1. Weak middle-order

Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube are two prominent batters in the middle order. However, Brevis will miss the first few games due to a side strain. Therefore, all the pressure will come on Dubey. Middle-order batters are a crucial part of the batting unit, who help to capture runs in the middle overs.

They also rescue the team in cases of batting collapse at the start. Given the IPL 2023 champions’ lack of depth in the middle order, this will be a major concern for them throughout the tournament.

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