Chennai Super Kings suffered a major setback in IPL 2026 as their in-form top order batsman Ayush Mhatre was ruled out as he suffered a hamstring tear during their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18. Mhatt has been a key pillar of CSK’s third-placed side, scoring 201 points in six games and providing much-needed stability in the top-flight. His absence has left a huge void as CSK prepares to take on Mumbai Indians.The big question now is: Who will replace Mhat at No. 3? As of now, CSK has not officially announced a replacement, leaving the team management to make a crucial decision ahead of this high-stakes game.Here are 3 potential replacements for CSK No. 3 Ayush Mhatre
Uvir Patel
Urvil Patel is a promising domestic talent who has been part of the CSK side and after his breakthrough performance in the 2025 season, he was retained by the team for Rs 30 lakh. While he has been on the bench for the first few games of the 2026 season, he is CSK’s replacement and a strong candidate to step into the starting lineup due to Mhat’s injury. He joined CSK in the middle of the 2025 season as a replacement for the injured Vansh Bedi. He made an immediate impact on his debut against KKR, scoring 31 runs off just 11 balls.
Sarfaraz Khan
In the current season, Sarfaraz has transitioned from his red-ball dominance to a high-impact T20 role. In 6 games so far, he has scored 147 runs at an average of 29.40 and scored a 25-ball half-century against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on April 5, 2026, his first IPL fifty in seven years. While his batting position is currently at No. 4, he could provide batting depth to the team by adding an extra batsman to take Mhatt’s place.
Kartik Sharma
Kartik Sharma is another in-squad option that can be tried as a flexible batting option. He made his IPL debut on March 30, 2026 against Rajasthan Royals at the ACA Stadium in Barsapara, where he scored 18 runs off 15 balls. In the first three games, he had scored just 25 runs at a strike rate of 119.05. He comes off the bench as an impact player, but Mhat’s injury could open up an immediate opportunity for him in the starting lineup.
