KL Rahul to join CSK!! Stephen Fleming leaves no stone unturned

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have begun their preparations for IPL 2026 with a five-day trial camp at their High Performance Center. Head coach Stephen Fleming and fielding coach Rajiv Kumar attended the sessions, which are part of the team’s preparations ahead of the upcoming auction.

The Super Kings last won their fifth IPL title in 2023 but struggled to make an impact in the last two seasons, failing to reach the playoffs. Last year, the team managed only four wins in 14 matches. They finished last on the points table for the first time in their IPL history, which forced them to overhaul the squad.

Chennai Super Kings Conduct Trial Camp with 40-50 Players

According to a report in The Indian Express, Chennai Super Kings are conducting a trial camp with 40-50 players, and former captain MS Dhoni is closely involved in the process. The team is focusing on batters to fix their weaknesses.

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There have been rumors that CSK might sign Sanju Samson from the Rajasthan Royals. However, the report added that the transfer is unlikely to happen. With no certainty about Samson, the franchise is exploring multiple options for the upcoming player auction.

"While there has been plenty of chatter around the franchise interested in bringing Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals, The Indian Express understands that the highly-talked about transfer is unlikely to materialise as things stand. With no certainty around Samson, even in the likelihood of the wicketkeeper entering the auction pool, Chennai are keeping their options open," the report read.

KL Rahul on Chennai Super Kings’ Radar for IPL 2026?

The report added that the franchise is interested in a well-known Indian batter who has fallen down the pecking order in T20Is. Many fans believe the player could be KL Rahul. It is not certain whether he participated in the ongoing trials, which conclude on Saturday.

The franchise had tried to secure KL Rahul in the previous auction, but Delhi Capitals (DC) secured him for Rs 14 crore. MS Dhoni’s side was second in the bidding process with Rs 13.75 crore. The report added that Rahul might be part of the upcoming player pool.

"There are also murmurs that one other prominent Indian player, who the franchise had shown interest to bring home to Chepauk even at the last player auctions, could enter the auction pool. A clear picture on this is expected in the coming days," the report added.

KL Rahul’s Performances for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025

KL Rahul had an impressive season in 2025. He scored 539 runs in 13 innings at an average of 53.9 and a strike rate of 149.72, his highest in a season since 2018. The right-handed batter scored a century and three fifties. He finished as Delhi Capitals’ top run-scorer, but the team failed to reach the playoffs.

While KL Rahul has consistently crossed 500 runs in a season, his T20 strike rate had been a concern in previous years. He showcased his aggressive batting despite batting at different positions for Delhi in 2025.

Rahul missed India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad and is also not part of the Asia Cup 2025 team in the UAE. The wicketkeeper-batter last played for India in T20Is during the 2022 T20 World Cup, where India lost to England in the semifinals.

Also read: Rehan Ahmed gets Ashes ticket, Mumbai Indians star to be England's ‘Shock Pick’