IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16 delivered blockbuster bids, with teams spending ₹ 215.45 crore on 77 players, including 29 overseas stars. Chennai Super Kings emerged aggressive, exhausting nearly their entire ₹ 125 crore purse to secure 25 players, leaving just ₹ 2.40 crore. Uncapped sensations Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma shattered records as the joint-highest paid at ₹ 14.20 crore each, while traded-in captain Sanju Samson commanded ₹ 18 crore.
Season of high hopes for Chennai Super Kings after banking on young guns
Chennai Super Kings enter IPL 2026 with renewed vigour after a dismal 2025 bottom-table finish, pivoting to youth-infused firepower under new influences like Samson. Retained skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad pairs with Samson at ₹ 18 crore each, forming a dynamic opening duo blending experience and aggression—Samson’s explosive 2025 domestic form (over 500 runs at 180+ strike rate) justifies the trade from Rajasthan Royals. CSK targeted raw talent, splashing ₹ 28.40 crore on Veer and Kartik, whose base prices were a mere ₹ 30 lakh, signalling franchise faith in unproven gems amid MS Dhoni’s ₹ 4 crore retention as mentor-wicketkeeper.
Veer, the Uttar Pradesh all-rounder, impressed in recent Ranji games with 20 wickets and 300 runs, earning CSK’s mega-bid for his seam-bowling variety and lower-order hitting. Kartik mirrors this as a wicketkeeper-batter with sharp glovework and middle-overs acceleration from Madhya Pradesh domestic circuits. Shivam Dube anchors the finishers, Noor Ahmad bolsters spin attack, blending with veterans like Khaleel Ahmed for death-over control.
Overseas picks like Dewald Brevis, Nathan Ellis, and Akeal Hosein add global depth, with eight foreign slots filled strategically. Anshul Kamboj and Gurjapneet Singh provide domestic pace options, while budget buys like Rahul Chahar and Mukesh Choudhary ensure spin-pace balance. This squad depth positions CSK for a playoff push, leveraging young energy on batting-friendly pitches.
Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Full list of unsold players along with their base price
Salaries of CSK players in IPL 2026
CSK’s auction strategy prioritized top-end spending on elite batters and uncapped all-rounders, with Samson topping at ₹ 18 crore alongside Gaikwad. Veer’s ₹ 14.20 crore deal highlights CSK’s youth gamble, outbidding rivals for his all-phase utility. Below is the full breakdown:
| S.No. | Player | Sold Price (₹) |
| 1 | Sanju Samson | 18 crores |
| 2 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | 18 crores |
| 3 | Kartik Sharma | 14 crores 20 lakh |
| 4 | Prashant Veer | 14 crores 20 lakh |
| 5 | Shivam Dube | 12 crores |
| 6 | Noor Ahmad | 10 crores |
| 7 | Rahul Chahar | 5 crores 20 lakh |
| 8 | Khaleel Ahmed | 4 crores 80 lakh |
| 9 | MS Dhoni | 4 crores |
| 10 | Anshul Kamboj | 3 crores 40 lakh |
| 11 | Gurjapneet Singh | 2 crores 20 lakh |
| 12 | Dewald Brevis | 2 crores 20 lakh |
| 13 | Nathan Ellis | 2 crores |
| 14 | Akeal Hosein | 2 crores |
| 15 | Matt Henry | 2 crores |
| 16 | Matthew Short | 1 crores 50 lakh |
| 17 | Jamie Overton | 1 crores 50 lakh |
| 18 | Sarfaraz Khan | 75 lakh |
| 19 | Zak Foulkes | 75 lakh |
| 20 | Aman Khan | 40 lakh |
| 21 | Shreyas Gopal | 30 lakh |
| 22 | Ayush Mhatre | 30 lakh |
| 23 | Ramakrishna Ghosh | 30 lakh |
| 24 | Urvil Patel | 30 lakh |
| 25 | Mukesh Choudhary | 30 lakh |
Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Complete list of sold players with their price
