Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has confirmed that the team will open with Sanju Samson and himself in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season, putting an end to speculation over the franchise’s opening combination.
Speaking at the Captains Day event in Mumbai on Wednesday, Gaikwad revealed the decision when asked about the possible permutations between himself, new signing Sanju Samson and India Under-19 star Ayush Mhatre.
“Rutu and Sanju,” Gaikwad said when he was given all permutations with the three batters.
The decision means the 18-year-old Mhatre, one of the breakout performers of the previous season, is likely to move down the order. Mhatre had impressed while opening in IPL 2025, scoring 240 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 188.97 after coming in as an injury replacement for Gaikwad. The youngster was later retained by CSK ahead of IPL 2026 and recently led India to the Under-19 World Cup title in February.
CSK had plenty of options at the top of the order after pulling off one of the most talked-about trades in the league by bringing in Samson ahead of the 2026 auction in exchange for all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
Samson’s reputation has grown further after a sensational campaign in India’s title-winning run at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where he produced scores of 89, 89 and 97* in three must-win matches to claim the Player-of-the-Tournament award.
Dube opens up on quiet train journey to Mumbai after T20 WC triumph
Star all-rounder Shivam Dube revealed that his journey back home after India’s triumph at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 turned into an unusual adventure, as he had to travel by train and take extra precautions to avoid being recognised by fans.
Dube faced difficulty finding a flight from Ahmedabad to Mumbai after the historic victory, as most flights were fully booked. With limited options available, the all-rounder decided to take a train instead, travelling in a 3rd AC coach along with his family. Despite the risk of being spotted, he chose the train as the quickest way to reach home.
In a video shared by CSK, Dube described how he managed to keep a low profile during the journey.
“It was quite tough. We took the train around 5 am, and there were many people. But since it was right after the World Cup, no one expected me to be there. I went to the top berth and slept for some time. We slept around 5:30 and woke up at 10:30,” he said.
The 31-year-old also recalled a similar train journey he undertook last year while returning from a tournament in Baroda.
“I had done this before as well, wearing a mask. Last year, before the IPL, I travelled by train from a BPCL tournament in Baroda because I wanted to reach home early. I was sleeping on my berth, and there were a few friends with me,” he added.
Dube also spoke about his conversation with Samson, who will join CSK for the first time this season. According to Dube, Samson had asked him about the atmosphere in Chennai.
“You’ll love it. It will feel like home. There’s no pressure, you can just focus on your practice and training,” Dube said.
Dube is expected to play a key role for the five-time champions in the upcoming Indian Premier League season. Chennai Super Kings will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on March 30.