Why CSK spent Rs 28.4 crore on 2 inexperienced young players, team coach Stephen Fleming told the inside story

Stephen Fleming: In the IPL 2026 Mini Auction, the teams of Chennai Super Kings and KKR had entered the auction with the highest amount, that is why both these teams made the highest bids on the players. Chennai Super Kings has surprised everyone by including two young players in their team by paying Rs 14.2 crore.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have included two uncapped players Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma in their team for Rs 14.20-14.20 crore in the mini auction of IPL 2026. Along with this, now team coach Stephen Fleming has revealed the reason behind this.

Stephen Fleming told why CSK spent Rs 28.4 crore on 2 young players

In the mini auction of IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings spent a lot of money on young players. Chennai Super Kings included wicketkeeper batsman Karthik Sharma in their team during the mini auction for Rs 14.20 crore. This player had registered his name in the IPL auction at the base price of Rs 30 lakh.

At the same base price, Uttar Pradesh’s left arm spinner and explosive batsman Prashant Veer had also registered his name. CSK has also included this player in its team for Rs 14.20 crore. Apart from these two, CSK has included many more young players in its team.

Now Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming told why CSK, which always goes with experience, has made such a big bid on young players. Stephen Fleming said that

“I wonder whether we are now seeing the real product of T20 cricket coming out. This thing definitely started last year or the year before that. Earlier, I believed that experience helps and that leads to victory. But now you are seeing fearless cricketers who have grown up watching T20 cricket and who have such a skill set that makes mouths water.”

Stephen Fleming further said during this time that

“Now players are not worried about what environment they have to showcase their skills in. Sometimes experienced players get caught trying to read the game too much. These young players know only one way, and that is to play freely. This is a natural by-product of being in T20 cricket for a long time.”

Chennai Super Kings included these players in their team

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings included a total of 9 players in their team in the IPL 2026 mini auction. During this period, CSK included players like Karthik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Sarfaraz Khan and Aman Khan in their team, while the franchise also included Rahul Chahar, Akil Hussain, Matt Henry, Matthew Short and Folks in their team.

Chennai Super Kings team after IPL 2026 mini auction

Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Ayush Mhatre, M.S. Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brewis, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dubey, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Noor Ahmed, Khalil Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapaneet Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Chaudhary, Nathan Ellis, Akil Hussain, Prashant Veer, Karthik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zach Folks.