Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have officially called up Mumbaiโ€™s young batting all-rounder Ayush Vartak for mid-season trials in IPL 2026. The move comes as the five-time champions battle a severe injury crisis. CSK recently lost two key domestic players, prolific young opener Ayush Mhatre (hamstring) and pacer Khaleel Ahmed (quadricep) who have both been ruled out for the remainder of the season. While Akash Madhwal was signed as a replacement for Mhatre on April 23, 2026, the team is still searching for a versatile option to fill the gap left by Ahmed.

Vartak is a 21-year-old rising star in Mumbai's domestic circuit, known for his explosive power-hitting and right-arm medium-pace bowling. He led the Mumbai Under-23 team in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy during the 2025-26 season. He had a breakout run in the U23 State A Trophy, finishing as Mumbaiโ€™s highest run-getter with 363 runs in 6 innings (average 72.60) and was the tournamentโ€™s second-highest six-hitter with 26 maximums. Vartak made headlines by smashing an unbeaten 215 off 110 balls in local Mumbai cricket and recently hit five consecutive sixes in an innings during the Shalini Bhalekar Trophy.While he has been a senior probable for Mumbai for two seasons, he is yet to make his senior debut for the state.

CSKโ€™s campaign for 2026 comes to standstill

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are facing a critical junction in their IPL 2026 campaign after a string of setbacks that have left the five-time champions struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive. CSK's momentum has stalled significantly following their latest defeat against Gujarat Titans by 8 wickets at Chepauk on Sunday, April 26. They have slumped to 6th position with 6 points (3 wins, 5 losses) after 8 matches. Their NRR has dropped to -0.121, which could be a deciding factor in a tightly packed mid-table race.

The "standstill" in their campaign is largely attributed to a massive injury list that has decimated their core squad. MS Dhoniโ€™s calf injury has come as the biggest blow as he has missed all 8 games so far due to a calf strain and a second related injury, leaving a void in leadership and finishing power. In their upcoming match, the five-time IPL winners will be up against Mumbai Indians on May 2, in the re-match of their April 23 El-Clasico.