What Batting Position Will Ayush Mhatre Get in CSK for IPL 2026?

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings will start their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on March 30. The contest will take place at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, which is the second home ground of RR.

Meanwhile, ahead of their first match, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad spoke about CSK opening combination. It also revealed Ayush Mhatre batting position for the upcoming season of Indian Premier League.

What will be Ayush Mhatre Batting Position in IPL 2026?

Ruturaj Gaikwad recently appeared in the IPL captain’s meet on Wednesday, where he revealed the team's top order. CSK had added Sanju Samson to their squad ahead of the season, and it raised speculations about his batting spot. Gaikwad disclosed the fact that he’ll be seen opening with the former RR skipper in match of CSK, one of the best teams in IPL.

As Mhatre won’t be opening, he is likely to bat at the No. 3 position. The right-handed batter batted at No. 3 position in the recently concluded Under-19 World Cup and performed relatively well. As a result, this position at Chennai Super Kings won't be something new for him.

Since Samson and Gaikwad have proven experience of opening in the IPL, it seems to be an excellent move by the CSK team management to bring out their best batters at the top. Both are among the best batsmen in IPL and score plenty of runs every season.

Apart from the CSK top order batsman 2026, their middle order also looks strong with the likes of Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, and Sarfaraz Khan. They clearly have one of the best batting line-ups in the tournament which is capable of taking down any bowling attack.

How Did Ayush Mhatre Perform in IPL 2025?

Young prodigy Ayush Mhatre had an excellent IPL season last time around as he scored 240 runs in seven matches at an average of 34.29 and a strike rate close to 190. Considering it was his maiden IPL season, it was an excellent one for the youngster.

Mhatre batted freely at the top and made good use of the powerplay restrictions. He will be expected to perform better this season as he has played plenty of cricket since IPL 2025. He also led India to the Under-19 World Cup title, an enormous achievement for his career.