Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his predictions for the IPL 2026 mini-auction, suggesting that Chennai Super Kings might target left-handed batters Nitish Rana or Venkatesh Iyer. His analysis comes after the recent trade deal involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, and Sam Curran between CSK and Rajasthan Royals. Ashwin believes that if Samson opens with Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK will need a left-handed option at number three. Both Rana and Iyer fit this requirement perfectly. The former CSK player explained his reasoning on his YouTube channel, highlighting how these players suit Chepauk's challenging conditions. He outlined a potential batting lineup featuring Samson and Gaikwad as openers, followed by Rana or Iyer, with Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, and Cameron Green completing the middle order. Both targeted players had disappointing performances in IPL 2025.
Why Rana and Iyer Suit CSK's Strategy
Ashwin emphasized that both players offer versatility crucial for Chepauk's conditions, where square boundaries are difficult to access. He noted that Venkatesh Iyer can play sweep and reverse sweep shots effectively, while Nitish Rana's shorter stature helps him use bounce to reach square boundaries. Despite Ayush Mhatre being a proven option, Ashwin pointed out that Chennai's pitch has started slowing down, especially during second innings. Rana scored 217 runs at below 22 average for Rajasthan Royals after his INR 4.2 crore purchase. Iyer managed only 20.28 average in 11 matches for Kolkata Knight Riders despite costing INR 23.75 crore, making both players potential auction targets for CSK.
Source: Link