Ravichandran Ashwin Endorses Sarfaraz Khan for CSK in IPL 2026

Ravichandran Ashwin has praised Sarfaraz Khan's remarkable form in domestic cricket, suggesting he should be a regular batter for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026. Following a stunning 157 off 75 balls against Goa in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Sarfaraz's impressive stats in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy further bolster Ashwin's endorsement. With CSK securing him for Rs 75 lakh in the recent mini-auction, fans are eager to see how this talented player will contribute to the team's success in the upcoming season.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 1, 2026, 02:15 IST

Ashwin's Support for Sarfaraz Khan

New Delhi, December 31: Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his confidence in Sarfaraz Khan's potential to secure a spot as a regular batter for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. This endorsement follows Sarfaraz's remarkable performance where he scored 157 runs off just 75 balls against Goa in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), demonstrating his exceptional power-hitting skills.

Sarfaraz's innings included an impressive nine fours and 14 sixes, with his century coming in a mere 56 deliveries. Ashwin highlighted Sarfaraz's outstanding form in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he accumulated 329 runs across seven matches, boasting a strike rate of 203.08 and an average of 65.80.

In a post on X, Ashwin noted, "100*(47), 52(40), 64(25), 73(22) in the SMAT. That form has seamlessly transitioned into the Hazare with scores of 55(49) followed by a blistering 157(75) today with 14 sixes. It’s particularly impressive how he dominates spin in the middle overs with his sweeps and slog sweeps. ‘Avan kadhava thattala, idichi odachitu irukaan.’ (He is not just knocking on the door; he is breaking it down.) CSK should definitely consider including him in the Playing XI during this purple patch. They have a genuine problem of plenty with their batting lineup this season! I’m eagerly looking forward to IPL 2026."

Following his stellar performance in the SMAT, CSK secured the right-handed batter for Rs 75 lakh during the IPL 2026 mini-auction held earlier this month.

Chennai Super Kings Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Jamie Overton, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Khaleel Ahmed, Sanju Samson, Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes.