Ambati Rayudu betrays CSK and reveals why they won’t qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs
Published - 30 Mar 2026, 01:23 PM
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star Ambati Rayudu predicted that the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team will fail to qualify for the Indian Premier League 2026 playoffs. Rayudu highlighted several weaknesses in the Chennai franchise ahead of their opening match against Rajasthan Royals (RR), led by Riyan Parag.
The Super Kings want to recover after finishing at the bottom of the points table last year. To address their batting issues, the franchise acquired star wicketkeeper Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals while trading Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. However, Samson was not given the captaincy of the team.
I Didn’t Pick Chennai Super Kings in My Top Four - Ambati Rayudu
Speaking about his playoff predictions, Ambati Rayudu revealed his reasoning for omitting Chennai Super Kings from his top four teams. Rayudu pointed out the heavy reliance on inexperienced players in the squad.
“I didn’t pick Chennai in my top four because, one, it’s too early in the season. There are a lot of young names in that side, and we need to see how they settle into the XI as well as into their roles,” Ambati Rayudu told ESPN Cricinfo.
Here's why Ambati Rayudu does NOT have CSK in his top 4 picks for the season... pic.twitter.com/b0sedD4AqX
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 30, 2026
The Super Kings will face Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Monday, March 30. For the first time ever, Chennai Super Kings will play a match without either MS Dhoni or Suresh Raina.
The franchise will likely hand debuts to 19-year-old Kartik Sharma and 20-year-old Prashant Veer against Rajasthan Royals. Kartik and Prashant are inexperienced and returning from injuries.
Another Area That Worries Me is the Bowling - Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu expressed concerns about the Chennai Super Kings’ bowling attack. He acknowledged that Noor Ahmad can take wickets during the middle overs but pointed out weaknesses during the powerplay and death overs for the five-time champions.
“I still have some concerns regarding what role each player might play. Another area that worries me is the bowling. There is Noor Ahmed to pick wickets in the middle overs, but in the powerplay and at the death, I see some weaknesses."
"I just hope they cover those gaps and qualify. Can they qualify? Of course, they can. Will they qualify? Looking at the squad on paper at the moment, maybe not, but I hope they do.”
Chennai Super Kings Face Injury Crisis Ahead of IPL 2026
Chennai Super Kings are facing an injury crisis. Overseas batter Dewald Brevis is unavailable for the initial stage of the Indian Premier League 2026 after suffering a severe side strain.
Brevis recently starred for South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026, finishing as their third-highest run-scorer behind Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton. CSK needed him in the middle order to attack opposition spinners.
With MS Dhoni and Nathan Ellis already sidelined, losing Brevis leaves Chennai Super Kings in a difficult position. The franchise lacks a like-for-like overseas replacement, as Matt Short usually plays in the top order, which is already dominated by established Indian batters.
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Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla...
