Ruturaj Gaikwad MS Dhoni for CSK. Image Credits: AFP
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise seldom fails to ignite a fresh wave of anticipation before any IPL season. Boasting one of the largest fan bases for any T20 league team in the world, the five-time IPL champions and two-time CLT20 winners continue to remain one of the most followed sides whenever the tournament rolls around.
With IPL 2026 season on the horizon, several of their batters could emerge as serious contenders in the race to win the coveted Orange Cap. While three CSK players have already clinched the cap since the inaugural edition of the tournament, the most recent instance occurred in 2021 when current skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad lifted the cap by plundering over 600 runs in their title-winning campaign.
Here, we take a look at three serious CSK candidates who could bag the prestigious Orange Cap in the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
CSK Players who can become IPL 2026 Orange Cap Winners
1. Ruturaj Gaikwad
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad missed a major part of the IPL 2025 season last year, forcing former skipper MS Dhoni to take over the leadership responsibilities. Set to make his proper return for a full season this time around, Gaikwad will once again be expected to helm his team’s batting contingent at the top of the order.
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In three of his last four IPL seasons for CSK before missing IPL 2025, the prolific right-handed batter has plundered over 550 runs, which included an Orange Cap-winning haul of 635 runs in just 16 innings of the 2021 edition.
The cricketer will also enter IPL 2026 on the back of a prolific domestic season for the Maharashtra cricket team, aggregating 413 runs in just seven innings of the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy at a splendid average of 82.60. Gaikwad also whacked a sizzling 83-ball 105 against South Africa during his previous international outing with the bat for Team India a few months ago.
2. Sanju Samson
Born and raised in Kerala, Sanju Samson will probably feel closer to home while playing for the CSK franchise in the adjacent state of Tamil Nadu. The seasoned IPL batter was traded to CSK from the Rajasthan Royals prior to the IPL 2026 auction last year in exchange for explosive all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
While Samson led the Royals franchise in the past few editions of the tournament, the wicketkeeper-batter could now relish the opportunity to play with greater freedom in the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
One of the most prolific run-makers in the history of IPL cricket, the 31-year-old will also head into IPL 2026 on the back of a sensational run for Team India at the recently concluded 2026 T20 World Cup. Punching out three successive 80s, including an attacking 46-ball 89 in the final, Samson fittingly bagged the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award and will now aim to carry his international form into the elite IPL arena.
3. Ayush Mhatre
India’s teenage batting sensation Ayush Mhatre made his IPL debut for the CSK franchise last year during IPL 2025 at the tender age of nearly 18. The explosive Mumbai top-order batter celebrated the occasion by aggregating 240 runs in just seven innings of the tournament at a staggering strike rate of 188.97.
In a match against eventual champions RCB in Bengaluru, Mhatre took on the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi and Krunal Pandya to blast 94 runs from just 48 balls, including nine boundaries and five sixes.
Set to receive a longer rope in the CSK playing XI this time around, especially after winning the 2026 ICC U19 World Cup with Team India, Ayush Mhatre might well emerge as a surprise candidate on the leading run-scorers’ chart.
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