Chennai Super Kings have found a replacement player for Ayush Mhatre. The franchise has inducted 32-year-old fast bowler Akash Madhwal into their squad to take Mhatre's place. Ayush Mhatre suffered a hamstring injury while batting during a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, an injury that has ruled him out for the entire season. Madhwal will receive ₹30 lakh upon joining the CSK squad.
Akash Madhwal is a right-arm fast bowler. He first made his entry into the IPL in 2019 as a net bowler for RCB. During the 2022 season, Mumbai Indians signed him as a replacement for Suryakumar. In the IPL 2023 season, he delivered an impressive performance for Mumbai Indians, taking 14 wickets in 8 matches.
Official Announcement
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 23, 2026
Speed incoming!! ⚡️
Akash Madhwal is now #Yellove 💛
Note: Akash Madhwal replaces Ayush Mhatre, who has been ruled out due to hamstring injury.#WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/tSgnZupmZb
Akash Madhwal first made headlines when the Rajasthan Royals acquired him for ₹1.20 crore during the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. Although he fetched a substantial bid at the auction, his actual performance proved to be quite the opposite. Playing four matches for Rajasthan during the 2025 season, he managed to take only four wickets and also proved to be quite expensive.
It could also be argued that the Chennai Super Kings were in dire need of a bowler. Nathan Ellis was ruled out even before the commencement of the IPL 2026 tournament. Furthermore, just a few days prior, Khaleel Ahmed was also ruled out for the entire season due to an injury. Under these circumstances, Akash Madhwal's arrival in the squad comes as welcome news for the Chennai team.
Nevertheless, with Akash Madhwal joining the squad and Ayush Mhatre departing, a change in the composition of CSK's Playing XI is inevitable. Mhatre had been opening the batting, whereas Akash is a bowler. Consequently, the question now arises as to who will open the innings alongside Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Akash Madhwal IPL Career
Akash Madhwal is an Indian fast bowler known for his precise bowling and ability to deliver lethal yorkers during the death overs; he suddenly rose to prominence while playing for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2023. Born in Uttarakhand, this engineer achieved stardom in 2023 by recording a career-best bowling performance of 5/5 during the IPL playoffs. As of April 2026, he has joined the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a replacement for an injured player for the remainder of the season.
Also Read: Fast Bowler Mukesh Choudhary Ruled Out of IPL 2026 MI vs CSK Match
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