Big decision of Chennai Super Kings! This happened for the first time in 19 years of IPL history
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For the first time, Chennai Super Kings included only 2 players in their playing eleven in the Indian Premier League. This is only the seventh time in the 19 seasons and 1154 matches of the tournament that a team has played two or less foreign players in its playing eleven. Apart from Mumbai Indians (MI), no team has done this more than once.
Chennai Super Kings fielded only 2 players in the playing eleven for the first time in IPL history.
New Delhi. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has taken a unique step for the first time in its 18-year history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). On Friday (April 3), Rahul Chahar was given a chance to make his franchise debut under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad in the 2026 IPL match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The five-time champion team made two changes in its playing eleven after the defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR). Prashant Veer replaced Matthew Short, while Jamie Overton also did not get a chance due to the arrival of Rahul Chahar as impact sub. He had scored the most runs in the first match.
With the arrival of two Indian players in place of two foreign players, Super Kings included nine Indian players in their team and left the place of foreign players vacant.
CSK's historic first chance
This is the first time that CSK's team includes only two foreign players. Friday's match is Super Kings' 255th match in IPL and 279th in all competitions. Surprisingly, this never happened during the captaincy of MS Dhoni from 2008 to 2025. Overall, this is only the seventh time in 19 seasons and 1154 matches of IPL that a team has played two or less foreign players in its playing eleven. Apart from Mumbai Indians (MI), no team has done this feat more than once.
In Friday's match, CSK's team includes four players under the age of 21 (Ayush Mhatre, Prashant Veer, Karthik Sharma and Noor Ahmed), which is a rare occasion and this has happened for the second time. Apart from this, this is only the second time in IPL history when both MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina are not in the playing eleven. Earlier this had happened against Rajasthan Royals in the season opener. Before the match against Royals, there were only five matches in the history of CSK when MS Dhoni was not in the playing eleven.
This change in CSK team has happened due to injuries. Apart from Dhoni, Dewald Brevis is also out due to side strain. If he had been fit he would have definitely played. At the same time, Nathan Ellis is out of the tournament and his replacement Spencer Johnson is also injured and will join the team around April 21. CSK also has Jack Foulkes and Akeal Hosein on the bench, but they have not got a chance in the first two matches.
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