IPL 2026 CSK vs RR: Will Sanju Samson Open Batting For Chennai Super Kings?

IPL 2026 CSK vs RR: Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes Chennai Super Kings should avoid starting IPL 2026 with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson together at the top. CSK face Rajasthan Royals in their season opener in Guwahati on Monday night, and Akash Chopra feels the current injury issues demand a different opening strategy.

Akash Chopra warned that pairing Rituraj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson as openers could leave the middle order exposed. The analyst suggested that CSK need more experience spread through the innings, especially with several first-choice players unavailable for the first phase of the tournament.

IPL 2026 CSK opening combination and middle-order concerns

According to Chopra, CSK should push captain Ruturaj Gaikwad down to one-drop and let a youngster share the new ball with Samson. Chopra said Ayush Mhatre, the Mumbai batter, should open with Samson, which would allow Gaikwad to anchor at No. 3 and stabilise the line-up if early wickets fall.

Chopra explained that keeping both senior batters at the top could leave too many inexperienced names to follow. He pointed out that after the openers, CSK would then rely on a mix of Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel or Sarfaraz Khan, with Shivam Dube the only seasoned batter left, which could be risky in pressure situations.

IPL 2026 CSK injuries ahead of Rajasthan Royals clash

CSK’s selection headaches have increased before the first game, with multiple injuries affecting the squad. MS Dhoni has not travelled to Guwahati as Dhoni continues to recover from a calf muscle strain, while Dewald Brevis is unavailable for the Rajasthan Royals match because of a side strain picked up before the opener.

Chopra detailed how these absences have changed CSK’s plans. He said on his YouTube channel: “The big question is that Dewald Brevis is also not there. You have apparently lost Dewald Brevis for the first three or four games. Spencer Johnson is also not there. You took an injured player for an injured player. Nathan Ellis has already been ruled out. MS Dhoni is not there for two weeks. Not even one ball has been bowled and your problems have mounted.”

Earlier, Ruturaj Gaikwad had indicated that Gaikwad expected to open with Sanju Samson for most of the season. Chopra now feels that situation has changed, saying that with Brevis missing, CSK’s XI and batting order both need adjustment. Chopra urged, “Since Dewald Brevis is not there now, your XI will automatically change, but your order should also change. Ruturaj Gaikwad shouldn't open with Sanju Samson now. Make Ayush Mhatre open with Sanju Samson and bring Ruturaj at No. 3. I feel you will do wrong if you still open with Ruturaj and Sanju.

Chopra added that a small tweak could protect the batting group against Rajasthan Royals’ attack. He argued that shifting Gaikwad to No. 3 would spread experience across the innings and reduce pressure on the youngsters, closing by urging, “Then you will have Mhatre, Urvil Patel or Sarfaraz Khan, and you will have Dube as the only senior player in the entire batting order after the openers. You don't want that to happen. So I feel something should be changed. Captain, come at No. 3.”