Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have enlisted Akash Madhwal to replace Ayush Mhatre, who sustained a hamstring injury, for the rest of IPL 2026, paying Rs. 30 Lakh for the transfer. Madhwal, a right-arm fast bowler, previously played for Mumbai Indians, where he had a notable debut with a five-wicket haul in IPL 2023.
Madhwal’s performance saw a decline in the 2024 season, securing only five wickets in five matches. He later moved to Rajasthan Royals, where he claimed four wickets in four games. Despite having 23 wickets from 17 matches overall, he remained unsold at the IPL 2026 auction.
Hailing from Roorkee, the 32-year-old uncapped Indian cricketer was appointed as the captain of Uttarakhand for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in preparation for the 2022-23 domestic season, showcasing his growing influence in the cricketing scene.
Madhwal, who participated in CSK trials, emerged as a strong candidate to replace Khaleel Ahmed, absent due to a quadriceps injury. Although he only managed two wickets in five matches, his overall performance, maintaining an economy rate of 8.67, has been commendable.
In the absence of Khaleel, Chennai faced Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their first match, conceding 194 runs and suffering a defeat. Meanwhile, Mhatre, the former India U19 World Cup-winning captain, made a promising start for CSK, scoring two fifties in six matches before his hamstring injury during the recent game against SRH.
