In a recent cricbuzz analysis, Virender Sehwag made a big statement regarding CSK’s chances for playoffs. Sehwag currently views Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) playoff chances as unlikely, giving them only a 5/10 rating for qualification in IPL 2026. While they remain mathematically alive, he has raised significant "red flags" regarding their over-reliance on individual brilliance, specifically Sanju Samson and a lack of collective batting form. Sehwag warned on Cricbuzz that relying solely on Samson is dangerous; if he fails, the batting unit tends to collapse. He recently described their batting as "very weak," criticizing the lack of runs from Ruturaj Gaikwad and other top-order players.

"I don’t think Chennai Super Kings will be able to qualify for the top four this year at all. You could say their chances are almost nonexistent, and they most likely won’t qualify.”

In a recent rant, Sehwag mentioned that for the first time in years, he sees CSK making "constant changes" to their XI, which he views as a sign of panic rather than tactical flexibility.

Virendra Sehwag urges CSK management to focus on building team with only young players

Following their inconsistent form in the 2026 season, Sehwag has explicitly urged the management to abandon their traditional reliance on veterans and pivot toward a squad composed entirely of young talent. Sehwag argues that the current squad has reached a point where "rebuilding" is more important than "winning immediately.” He stated on Cricbuzz that if CSK commits to a purely young team, it will take at least two to three years to settle down, but it is a necessary sacrifice for the franchise's future.

“If the Chennai management believes that building a team with only young players will bring good results, then there’s no problem with that. But it will take at least two to three years to build a strong young team and develop the players with experience.”

He believes the "experience" factor, which once defined CSK, is now a liability. He noted that several senior players seem to view the franchise as a "government job", where performance doesn't match the guaranteed salary and that only hunger from youngsters can fix this.