Ayush Mhatre replacement revealed by Fleming [Source: AP]The IPL 2026 has turned out to be a misery for the Chennai Super Kings in terms of their injury list. MS Dhoni became their first casualty even before the start of the season, and the list kept on expanding, with CSK’s star boy, Ayush Mhatre, the latest entrant in the injury list.In the initial few IPL games, Mhatre was CSK’s best batter, even better than Sanju Samson, as he often shouldered the responsibility for an aggressive start, and laid a perfect platform for the middle-order batters.However, disaster struck when the India Under-19 skipper sustained a hamstring injury in the IPL match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad and was eventually ruled out of the tournament. Initially, it was expected that Mhatre could be sidelined for a couple of weeks, but after careful examination, he was ruled out of the entire event.CSK head coach names Mhatre's replacement in squadOfficially, CSK revealed former MI pacer, Akash Madhwal, as Ayush Mhatre’s replacement in the IPL 2026 squad; however, he is not a like-for-like replacement as Mhatre is a top order batter, and Madhwal is a pace bowler.The team certainly needs a similar type of player to replace Mhatre in the CSK playing XI, and ahead of their IPL match vs GT on Sunday, head coach Stephen Fleming revealed the player who will replace the injured star in the main squad.Venkata Krishna B @venkatatweets Ruturaj Gaikwad is at Chepauk. And is training with the team. As for a replacement player for Ayush Mhatre, Fleming says there is Urvil Patel, who is itching to get a game. So CSK aren’t rushing to name a replacement. The CSK head coach attended the pre-game press conference, and when asked about Mhatre’s replacement, Fleming stated that there is Urvil Patel, who is waiting in the wings, and is itching to get a game; hence, CSK aren’t rushing to name a replacement.The head coach directly gave a massive hint that Urvil Patel could be in the playing XI for the CSK Vs GT IPL match.Also Read: Ayush Mhatre Breaks Silence For The First Time Since IPL 2026 SetbackHow Urvil Patel is the perfect Ayush Mhatre replacement in CSK XIMhatre is an aggressive top order batter who plays a fearless brand of cricket, and doesn’t shy away from taking down the opposition bowlers. In just six games this season, he had amassed 201 runs, with a strike rate of 177.88.None of the CSK batters have this fearless attitude, barring Urvil Patel, who showed glimpses of his brilliance in IPL, last year.Last season, Urvil only got a chance in three IPL games, and he showed flashes of his brilliance as he added 68 runs in three matches, but his strike rate was the talk of the town as he struck runs at 212.50.Just like Mhatre, Urvil Patel has the same aggressive batting style, and he would be the perfect like-for-like replacement in the CSK XI.How CSK have fared in IPL 2026CSK have had an interesting IPL 2026 so far. Under the Ruturaj Gaikwad leadership, the side lost their first three matches, and were at the bottom of the points table.However, they bounced back to stay alive in the playoff race. After losing three games, the Super Kings turned their fortunes and won three of their next four matches to sit at fifth in the points tally, with 3 wins and 4 losses.Also Read: Lungi Ngidi Suffers IPL’s Most Horrific Injury, Ambulance Takes Him In Critical State
