Massive blow for Chennai Super Kings as Nathan Ellis is ruled out of IPL 2026 due to injury

March 20, 2026: Australia fast bowler Nathan Ellis is likely to miss IPL 2026 after hurting his hamstring again during a domestic One-Day Cup final on March 11.

Ellis, 31, was kept by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for INR 2 crore before the IPL auction. He played only one match for them in 2025. In total, he has played 17 IPL matches, mostly for Punjab Kings from 2021 to 2024. CSK has not yet given an official update about his injury.

Injury Update

Ellis, who is also the captain of Tasmania, bowled five overs in the rain-affected final against New South Wales and took 2 wickets for 26 runs. During this match, he seems to have injured his old hamstring again. Tasmania lost the final by four wickets.

He had already been dealing with this injury earlier, which made him miss the Big Bash League knockout matches, where he was leading the Hobart Hurricanes.

CSK Team Situation

Ellis was expected to be very important for CSK, especially as a death bowler. He was going to play a key role after the team released Matheesha Pathirana before the auction.

Now, CSK’s fast-bowling options include overseas players Matt Henry, Jamie Overton, and Zak Foulkes. Indian bowlers in the squad are Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, and Mukesh Choudhary. All-rounders Shivam Dube and Aman Khan can also bowl pace.

CSK also shared on social media that their new player, Sanju Samson, has joined the team.

Here are five players who could replace Ellis:

Ottneil Baartman (South Africa)

He is a very good death bowler and has received praise from players. He helped his team win SA20 titles in 2023 and 2024. He also played well in the T20 World Cup 2024. Since he went unsold in the IPL auction, he could be a good option for CSK.

Sean Abbott (Australia)

Abbott is very experienced in T20 cricket. He has taken the most wickets in Big Bash League history. He is known for bowling well under pressure, especially in the final overs.

Gerald Coetzee (South Africa)

Coetzee is a fast and aggressive bowler. He performed very well in the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, injuries are a concern, as he missed some recent tournaments. If fit, he can be a strong match-winner.

Shamar Joseph (West Indies)

Joseph is known for his pace and energy. He became famous after taking 7 wickets in a Test match in Australia. Though he is new to T20s, he has great potential.

Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan)

Farooqi is a left-arm fast bowler. He has played in the IPL before. While his economy rate is high, he can still be useful, especially because he adds variety to the bowling attack.

CSK will play their first match of IPL 2026 on March 30 against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. After that, they will play Punjab Kings on April 3, Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 5, and Delhi Capitals on April 11. CSK finished last in IPL 2025, winning only four out of 14 matches.