Sanju Samson or Ayush Mhatre: Who should open with Ruturaj Gaikwad for CSK in IPL 2026?

Ayush Mhatre and Sanju Samson (Source: AFP)

Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has recently shared his thoughts on Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson opening the batting for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026.

CSK acquired Samson from Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a blockbuster trade, sending Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in return ahead of the upcoming season. With Samson now in the squad, he is expected to open alongside Gaikwad. 

Ashwin recently spoke about the combination on his YouTube channel, praising both batters for their unique strengths. 

“There is pedigree with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson. Pedigree means making quality runs and sustaining that for a period of time. We must not forget that. For me, I would love to see both of them go hammer and tongs at the opening slot. Both of them have different strengths. One is a caresser of the ball, while the other hits it hard, so both of those qualities are there. I will look at it in that fashion—that I have two good openers,” Ashwin said.

Now, considering the fact that Sanju Samson is in the team, it will be interesting to see who CSK will choose as an opener for the upcoming season. Who will the five-time champions pick as Ruturaj Gaikwad's opener, Sanju Samson or Ayush Mhatre?

CSK had a disappointing 2025 season, finishing last in the IPL for the first time in their history. The team struggled heavily in the powerplay, scoring slowly in the first six overs and losing wickets cheaply. So, ahead of IPL 2026, CSK should be specific about their openers.

Samson vs Mhatre as openers: What do the numbers say?

(Samson and Mhatre's record in IPL as openers)

Sanju Samson brings experience, power, and timing to the table. The Kerala star has scored 442 runs in 16 innings at an average of 29.47 with a strike rate of 140.76 for the Rajasthan Royals as an opener. 

Overall, talking about the stats, Samson has played 31 innings as an opener and struck 783 runs at a strike-rate of 137.37. His ability to play aggressive shots and anchor the innings makes him a strong candidate for the top order.

On the other hand, Ayush Mhatre has emerged as a fearless young talent. At just 18, he impressed during IPL 2025 as a replacement for Gaikwad, scoring 208 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate of 185.71. 

He has also shown impressive form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). In 2 innings the star player has made 128 runs at an average of 128.00 a strike-rate of 188.24.

Samson or Mhatre: Who could be a better opening option?

Ahead of IPL 2026, CSK will face a strategic decision: pairing Gaikwad with Samson brings stability and experience, while pairing him with Mhatre adds explosive energy and fearlessness. 

Both combinations have merits:

• Gaikwad & Samson: Experienced, reliable, capable of building partnerships. Ideal for a team seeking balance and consistency.
• Gaikwad & Mhatre: Youthful, aggressive, and in red-hot form. Offers a high-risk, high-reward approach that could dominate the first six overs.

Why Mhatre-Gaikwad is a better choice?

Another factor that makes Sanju Samson a better option at the third position is that, if you take a look at his stats, he has overall played 94 innings at No. 3 and made 3096 runs at an average of 38.22 and a strike rate of 143.33. On the other hand, Ayush Mhatre has played just one innings batting at third position and made 32 runs.

(Sanju Samson's record at No. 3 in IPL)

Conclusion

Considering CSK’s past struggles in the powerplay, the 'Yellow Army' might stick with Ayush Mhatre and Ruturaj Gaikwad and bring in Samson at No. 3 to strengthen the middle order. The team also has other options- Urvil Patel, who could serve as a back-up opener.

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