Chennai Super Kings Sign Spencer Johnson as Nathan Ellis Replacement for IPL 2026

Chennai Super Kings have confirmed the signing of Australian bowler Spencer Johnson as a replacement for Nathan Ellis, who is out due to injury for the IPL 2026 season. This move comes as part of a trend where players transition from the Pakistan Super League to the IPL. Johnson, previously with KKR and GT, will earn ₹1.5 crore with CSK. The team is looking to fill the gap left by Ellis, a key player in the death overs. Discover more about this significant change in the CSK lineup.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 24, 2026, 18:41 IST

CSK Welcomes Spencer Johnson

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have announced the signing of Australian fast bowler Spencer Johnson to take the place of Nathan Ellis for the upcoming 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Ellis has been sidelined due to a hamstring injury, which is a significant setback for the team. CSK's CEO, Kasi Viswanathan, expressed his disappointment, stating, “It is a big blow for us. Ellis is a crucial bowler, especially in the death overs. We are looking at replacements,” as reported by a sports outlet.

Johnson, who previously played for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2025 IPL and Gujarat Titans (GT) in 2024, will receive a salary of ₹1.5 crore from the five-time champions. He has participated in 13 international matches for Australia, including 5 ODIs and 8 T20Is, and has taken 18 wickets in total.

Players Transitioning from PSL to IPL

Johnson's addition to CSK is part of a trend where players are leaving the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to join IPL teams as injury replacements. Recently, Blessing Muzarabani and Dasun Shanaka terminated their contracts with Islamabad United (IU) and Lahore Qalandars (LQ) to join Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), respectively. Interestingly, Johnson had initially signed with Quetta Gladiators before the 2026 auction but opted for a pay cut, moving from a potential PKR 5.6 crores (approximately ₹1.87 crores) to join CSK.