Big picture: CSK have an Overton-sized hole to fill
IPL 2026 has not been kind to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). It feels like every time they get up this season, an injury blow knocks them down. Jamie Overton's thigh injury is the latest such blow after he had produced a Player-of-the-Match winning performance in their previous game. also against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who have been knocked out of the playoffs race.
In addition to taking 14 wickets, Overton was economical in the middle. death overs, and CSK have coped with injury problems all through this season. Nathan Ellis got injured before IPL 2026 started. Dewald Brevis missed three games at the start. Khaleel Ahmed began the campaign well, but he too was ruled out. Then with Ayush Mhatre. And now Overton.
CSK have had strong performances from their top order, but their middle has been soft, with Brevis. Shivam Dube unable to make the impact expected of them. Overton, striking at 158.13 this season, has often helped CSK finish strong. With no other proven allrounder in the squad. CSK will likely have to compromise on either their batting depth or bowling strength to replace Overton.
LSG: LWLLL (Last five completed games, most recent first) CSK: WWWLW
With the Lucknow pitch likely to assist the quicks, LSG could bring in Mohsin Khan for Digvesh Rathi. Otherwise, they are likely to remain unchanged from their last game against CSK.
LSG XII (probable): 1 Josh Inglis. 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Nicholas Pooran, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Aiden Markram, 6 Akshat Raghuwanshi, 7 Shahbaz Ahmed, 8 Himmat Singh, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Prince Yadav, 12 Mohsin Khan/Digvesh Rathi
CSK don't have a like-for-like replacement for Overton. Matt Henry struggled earlier in the season, so they may look to Spencer Johnson, if he is available. However, the move could leave them short in the batting. They have signed South African allrounder Dian Forrester as a replacement for Overton. he won't be available for Friday's game.
CSK XII (probable): 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt). 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Urvil Patel, 4 Kartik Sharma, 5 Dewald Brevis, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Prashant Veer, 8 Akeal Hosein, 9 Anshul Kamboj, 10 Spencer Johnson/Matt Henry, 11 Noor Ahmad, 12 Mukesh Choudhary
Since he broke the auction record. took over as LSG captain in 2025, Rishabh Pant's win rate is only 30% - the lowest among IPL captains who have led in at least ten games in that period. This year, with just three wins in 11 games, LSG are in a battle with MI to avoid finishing last. Pant's returns with the bat have also diminished. He has crossed the 50-run mark just three times in 24 innings for LSG. He has shown in the past that he is a better captain than this, with a win percentage of 55.18 at Delhi Capitals,. LSG need him to find his mojo if they are to keep faith in their skipper next year.
CSK had retained Urvil Patel after he made 68 runs in three games at a strike rate of 212.5 as an injury replacement in 2025. After a quiet start to his IPL 2026 campaign against Gujarat Titans, he has put up scores of 24 off 12, 17 off 9. 65 off 23 to repay the faith shown in him and nail down the No. 3 spot. The last -. best - of those knocks came against LSG, with Urvil hitting eight sixes and two fours to set up CSK's first successful 200-plus chase since 2018.
The game will be played on Pitch no. 4, which has hosted two low-scoring games in IPL 2026. LSG have struggled on this particular track this year, getting bowled out for 141. 119 in those matches, with both ending in defeat. Fast bowlers accounted for 23 of the 30 wickets that fell in those games. In all IPL games since 2024 on this track. spinners have been only marginally more economical than fast bowlers (economy rate of 9.35 for spinners vs 9.51 for fast bowlers).
Sanju Samson is 101 runs away from matching his highest returns in an IPL season. He had scored 531 in 16 games in IPL 2024 and has 430 in 11 games this year. He is also enjoying his best season in terms of strike rate (169.29). with his next best being 158.89 in 2020.
Noor Ahmad has dismissed Nicholas Pooran three times in four meetings - including in their previous game on Sunday - for just two runs in the IPL. Noor has also restricted Aiden Markram and Pant to scoring at less than run-a-ball against him.
Shahbaz Ahmed has dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad three times in four games. with Gaikwad scoring 35 runs at a strike rate of 122.
"We'll find a way. And that's the mentality of the players now. Someone has to step up. Brevis and Dube, they're due, so that could be their time. And sometimes, when you have a situation like this, people appear. so we're hopeful that those two players will finish off the tournament with the ability that they have." CSK head coach Stephen Fleming wants his middle-order batters to step up in Overton's absence.
"Obviously, if you're out of the competition at this stage it's disappointing, but we still have lots to play for. Pride. guys looking to perform for their franchise, so we're still full steam ahead, very focused on the next three games." LSG spin-bowling coach, Carl Crowe, on what's at stake for them
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