Chris Woakes’ retirement from international cricket may seem like the end of an era, but if you thought the English paceman had hung up his boots on the big stage, think again. The IPL 2026 mini-auction is coming up, and all of a sudden, Woakes is looking like that under-the-radar player who every team wants. He’s experienced, reliable with the new ball, and can still dish out those sneaky game-changing overs during the powerplay stage.

 

Mumbai Indians

 

The Wankhede is not a regular ground, but one of the more challenging venues for pacers due to its shorter boundaries and flat pitch. This is where Chris Woakes fits perfectly. He is not an express pace guy who will spray it about; he is a precision-based bowler who performs best with the new ball. His skill at putting it around early on will enable Mumbai to use Bumrah more tactically when it comes to the middle and death overs.

 

On paper, MI looks stacked with options—Trent Boult, Bumrah, and Deepak Chahar. But here’s the catch: Chahar’s injury record is dicey, and MI has a tendency to rely heavily on Bumrah at the back end. Woakes gives them flexibility. Plus, when you realize he’s already got solid numbers at the Wankhede (7 wickets in 5 games at an economy of just over 8), it feels like a low-risk, high-reward deal.

 

Kolkata Knight Riders

 

KKR’s 2025 campaign exposed a glaring weakness in overseas pacers. After Mitchell Starc’s heroics in 2024, the follow-up was, let’s just say, underwhelming. Nortje struggled, Spencer Johnson didn’t click, and Russell is no longer the bowler they can rely on consistently. That left Vaibhav Arora carrying the new-ball duties almost on his own.

 

Enter Chris Woakes. This wouldn’t even be unfamiliar territory; he’s worn the KKR jersey before, and Eden Gardens has been kind to him. In fact, his record there is stellar: 14 wickets in just seven matches at an average under 13. For a franchise desperate to plug that powerplay gap, Woakes is a bargain pick. He doesn’t need to be the superstar; they already have plenty of those, but he can quietly become the guy who sets the tone up front.

 

Lucknow Super Giants

 

If there’s one thing LSG desperately lacked in IPL 2025, it was a reliable new-ball bowler. Their plan of stacking up Indian pacers didn’t work out thanks to injuries and inconsistent form. By the time the season rolled on, they were handing power-play overs to Shardul Thakur, which felt like putting a band-aid on a broken dam.

 

Their overseas quicks haven’t fared much better. Will O’Rourke and Shamar Joseph showed glimpses, but not enough to command faith. With Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan better suited for the middle and death overs, LSG badly need someone who specializes in the first six. Woakes, with his skill set and SA20 connection through the Durban Super Giants, fits perfectly. He offers control, swings the ball, and brings calmness to a lineup that often looks frantic when things go wrong early.

 

FAQs

 

1. Why should the Mumbai Indians consider Chris Woakes for IPL 2026?

 

Woakes’ swing-bowling ability suits Wankhede’s conditions and provides backup for injury-prone pacers.

 

2. How can Chris Woakes help the Kolkata Knight Riders?

 

He fills their powerplay bowling gap with proven success at Eden Gardens.

 

3. Why is Chris Woakes a good fit for Lucknow Super Giants?

 

LSG lacks a specialist new-ball bowler, and Woakes offers control and early breakthroughs.

 

Disclaimer: TThis blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.

 

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