Former India player Ravichandran Ashwin, ever so knowledgeable about cricket and social media, once again took to his social media to praise two particularly young players who could be the future.
Reacting to the news that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and India U-19 batsman Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out of IPL 2026, Ashwin put forward the names of two of Mhatre’s U-19 World Cup-winning teammates, one of whom is currently contracted with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), as replacements that CSK should sign.
CSK’s injury problems
CSK is currently 8th in the IPL 2026 points table and has been plagued by injuries. Nathan Ellis was ruled out before the start of the tournament and was replaced by Spencer Johnson. But Johnson himself is recovering from an injury and has not joined the team. MS Dhoni is recovering from a calf strain and has not played a match.
Also Read: Big blow for CSK as Ayush Mhatre ruled out of IPL 2026
Dewald Brevis missed the first games due to injury, but returned to the team. Unfortunately, he has also had to miss the last few games due to the injury. Now, almost halfway through the season, CSK has also lost Khaleel Ahmed and Ayush Mhatre to injuries. They have not yet named a replacement for either of them.
Ravichandran Ashwin suggests two replacements for Ayush Mhatre
Ravichandran Ashwin took to his X account and suggested that CSK could try one of the two young players as Mhatre’s replacement.
Ayush Mhatre was the captain when India won the Under-19 World Cup in February this year, and both the names suggested by Ashwin were Mhatre’s teammates; in fact, one of them was Mhatre’s vice-captain.
I hate Malhotra
Malhotra is an all-round batsman from Punjab who bats left-handed and bowls a bit of off-spin. He was the vice-captain of the Indian under-19 team that won the World Cup this year. In that tournament, he made 240 runs at an average of 60, including two fifties, and took five wickets, which included a four-wicket haul against Bangladesh.
In the IPL 2026 auction, RCB bought Vihaan Malhotra for his base price of Rs. 30 lakh. Ravichandran Ashwin suggested that CSK could sign Malhotra on loan as he is yet to play for RCB.
Abhigyan Kundu
The other name suggested by Ashwin was Mumbai’s left-handed wicketkeeper – Abhigyan Kundu.
Kundu was the goalkeeper of the Ayush Mhatre-led team that won the U-19 World Cup. He made 239 runs with two fifties at an average of 59.75 in the Colts tournament. However, his greatest glory came two months earlier, in the Under-19 Asia Cup, when he made two centuries against Malaysia.
Abhigyan Kundu is currently not contracted with any IPL franchise and could be snapped up by CSK.
Check out Ravichandran Ashwin’s post:
With so many injuries on the horizon!
The loan window closes after the seventh game and it will be a great idea to loan this sensational RCB talent.
He hasn’t played a single game so far, making him a viable option.
If not Vihaan, Abhigyan Kundu is also left-handed… pic.twitter.com/CimZCIjTyV
—Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) April 21, 2026
CSK’s campaign and upcoming matches
So far, CSK have won only two of their six matches and are eighth in the points table. In their next match, they will face seventh-ranked Mumbai Indians, who have also won just two of their six matches.
The star clash of ‘El Clásico’ will take place at the Wankhede Stadium on April 23.