- May 21, 2025
Let’s be honest: supporting the Chennai Super Kings during the previous IPL season felt different from watching your favorite band struggle to hit all their usual high notes in their classics. One finishes with a whisper, the other with a whirlwind—MS and Jaddu are yin and yang in yellow. Both players have been the stalwarts for CSK since 2008, but do they still have that finishing touch for CSK in 2026? The answer may hurt some fans. We should not take this lightly. Let’s jump into the yellow den one more time and ask ourselves, does CSK need a finishing player or two?
The Shivam Dube Puzzle: Potential vs Performance
A lot rides on Shivam Dube. The big-hitter from Mumbai was supposed to be CSK’s answer to Hardik Pandya-style finishing. And to be fair, he did show flashes of brilliance in the previous seasons, clearing boundaries with ease and dominating spin. But 2025 saw a dip. The power was there, but the consistency? Not so much.
When Dube fires, CSK looks like a balanced unit with him as a bridge between the top order and Dhoni or Jadeja. But when he fails, the middle order collapses like a house of cards. That’s a dangerous gamble. A team like CSK, known for playing the long game with experience and composure, simply can’t afford a key player blowing hot and cold in crunch moments. The takeaway? One finisher isn’t enough anymore—not when your backup options aren’t in prime touch either.
Dhoni & Jadeja: Legends, But Are They Still Finishers?
MS Dhoni is a legend, Captain Cool, king of calm under pressure. Time’s undefeated—not loud, just lethal, dressed in yesterday’s memories. At 43 years old, Dhoni’s reflexes are not the same as they used to be, and most concerning is that he does not play competitive cricket outside of the IPL. That’s a long break from competitive cricket to remaining match-fit for such a high-intensity position.
Jadeja the All-Rounder—But Not the Finisher. He is more of a utility player, good in the field, effective with the ball, and capable as a lower-order bat when needed. But to expect him to finish games time and again, especially against quality spin, is fanciful. Both Dhoni and Jadeja have experience, but does CSK need them as the hammer at the death? Not anymore.
Building for the Future: The Auction and Spin Enforcers
Here’s where things get tricky—and interesting. The mega auction is done, which means CSK can’t overhaul their squad overnight. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be smart. The 2026 season needs a clear strategy: find an overseas finisher who complements Dube and takes pressure off Dhoni and Jadeja.
Someone like David Miller, Tim David, or even a wildcard from the associate nations who can play spin and hit big from ball one. Add to that the need for a second spin enforcer in the middle overs—especially when pitches slow down—and you start building a more resilient middle order.
With Ruturaj Gaikwad likely to take over the leadership baton, you also need some calm, experienced heads to guide the transition. But experience can’t be the only currency anymore. T20 is evolving fast, and CSK needs to find that sweet balance of youth, power, and game awareness.
The big question is: will CSK play it safe like they often do, or take a bold swing at rebuilding their lower-middle order? If you’re a fan of the Men in Yellow, one thing’s clear—2026 needs more than nostalgia to win games. So, CSK fans, who do you think should be the next great finisher in yellow?
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