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3 RCB Players Who Would Fit Into CSK's IPL 2026 Squad, And It's Not Virat Kohli
Follow UsHere, we look at three RCB players who could walk into CSK’s line-up in IPL 2026
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had their worst Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2025, finishing at the bottom of the points table for the first time in their history. CSK managed to win only four of their 14 fixtures, while their arch-rivals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), went on to win their maiden title.
Here, we look at three RCB players who could walk into CSK’s line-up in IPL 2026:
Phil Salt
The Super Kings had the lowest scoring rate (8.7) and average (25.2) in the powerplay in IPL 2025, and that’s where Salt could come in handy. The 28-year-old from England had the third-best strike rate in the first six overs among batters with at least 200 runs in that phase. In the powerplay, Salt smashed 318 runs at an average of 39.75 and a strike rate of 174.7. He scored almost 80 percent of his total IPL 2025 runs in the powerplay.
Tim David
The big man from Australia was one of RCB’s most impactful players in IPL 2025. David hammered 187 runs at an average of 62.33 and a strike rate of 185.14. He operated at a strike rate of almost 190 in the death overs - another area where CSK struggled in 2025. The Men in Yellow had the worst scoring rate in the death overs, with the likes of MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shivam Dube all operating at a strike rate of less than 160.
Jitesh Sharma
The wicketkeeper-batter from Vidarbha had his best IPL season earlier this year, scoring 261 runs at an average of 37.29 and a strike rate of 176.3. Jitesh played some clutch knocks for RCB and finished quite a few games for them. With Dhoni already 44 and unlikely to continue for much longer, CSK will soon need a new wicketkeeper. Jitesh would be a perfect replacement for MSD.