Can CSK qualify for IPL 2026 ?
After a disappointing season in IPL 2025, Chennai Super Kings have once again started their campaign with a humiliating defeat against Rajasthan Royals this season. All CSK fans have the same question: can CSK qualify for IPL 2026?
In this article, we will critically analyze whether this is a new CSK or if the result will be the same as last year
Performance of CSK IN IPL 2025
CSK finished at the bottom of the table last year with just 8 points. They managed to win only 4 matches out of 14 and handed easy wins (2 points) to their opponents in the remaining matches. It was the worst performance for the five-time champions CSK in an IPL season.
The best batter for CSK in IPL 2025 was Shivam Dube, who scored 357 runs at an average of 32.45 and a strike rate of 132.22. Only two batters managed to cross the 300-run mark. Ravindra Jadeja (301 runs) and Ayush Mhatre (240 runs) were the second- and third-best batters for CSK. This indicates that the batting unit completely failed last year.
In bowling, Noor Ahmad took 24 wickets for CSK and he was just 1 wicket behind the purple cap holder Gujrat Titans superstar of the season Prasidh Krishna. Noor was economical throughout the season and backbone of CSK bowling unit. Beside Noor Ahmad, no other bowler from CSK was in Top 15 wicket takers list.
Khaleel Ahmad managed to take 15 wickets, but his economy rate of 9.57 did not support CSK much. Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana could take 12 wickets for CSK, but he rarely showed control over the ball and continued giving runs with an economy of 10.13 runs per over.