Ramakrishna Ghosh’s IPL 2026 season lasted exactly one match. The Chennai Super Kings all-rounder made his debut against Mumbai Indians on May 2, took the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav, held a stunning catch to dismiss Will Jacks, and finished with figures of 1 for 24 from three overs, all while playing through a fractured right foot sustained either during a diving catch early in the match or a slip in his follow-through.
CSK confirmed his exit from the remainder of the season on May 4. It is a brutal end to what was a genuinely promising debut, and it adds another name to an injury list that already includes Khaleel Ahmed, Ayush Mhatre, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson and a still-absent MS Dhoni.
The question now is who fills the slot Ghosh has vacated. Three names from within the CSK traveling group are in contention.
DC vs CSK: 3 players who can replace Ramakrishna Ghosh in Chennai Super Kings XI
Aman Khan: Already in the squad and the most straightforward option
Aman Khan Joined CSK 💛💛 pic.twitter.com/gDJHkerLWA
— Loyal Cricket Fan (@YelloveMahi_777) March 9, 2026
Khan is the only player of the three who is already an official member of the CSK’s IPL 2026 squad, having been acquired for INR 40 lakh at the Abu Dhabi auction. He is a right-handed batter and medium-pace bowler, useful rather than explosive, a utility finisher in the Shivam Dube mold rather than a like-for-like replacement for Ghosh’s express pace.
His IPL career numbers across 12 matches show 115 runs at a strike rate of 110.58 and zero wickets, which tells you his batting has been his primary contribution at franchise level. His domestic credentials are stronger, a career-best 6 for 30 in List A cricket captaining Puducherry suggests there is more to his bowling than his IPL record indicates. If CSK want the path of least resistance, Khan is the name already on the list.
Ayush Vartak: The power-hitting wildcard from Mumbai
Vartak is 21 years old and was called up for mid-season trials beginning April 28, specifically to be evaluated as a potential replacement for injured players.
The numbers from his domestic season paint a picture of a batter with genuine power, 26 sixes in the Men’s State A Trophy 2025, the second-highest tally in India for that tournament, alongside a strike rate of 169.62 and an average of 72.60.
In the Col CK Nayudu Trophy the previous season he was Mumbai’s leading run-scorer with 770 runs from nine matches including six scores over fifty, with knocks of 192 and 102 suggesting he can build innings as well as hit them.
🚨 Another blow for CSK as Ramakrishna Ghosh is ruled out. 💔@ChennaiIPL Trial reports suggest Ayush Vartak is a frontrunner.
Sunny Sandhu and Macneil Noronha are also solid domestic options on the radar.
Tough times for the Men in Yellow! 🦁💛
pic.twitter.com/8sstXOAiHq— Shariq (@CricBhakt7380) May 3, 2026
Ravichandran Ashwin posted about him on social media, confirming his presence with the squad and noting CSK’s diligence with in-season scouting. If CSK want batting firepower from an uncapped player with genuine upside, Vartak is the most exciting option of the three.
CSK have been very diligent with their scouting during the season to build a good core for the future.
Upgrading in between auctions through such smart recruitments and trades is the best way to realign squads.
Young talented Ayush Vartak from Maharashtra. pic.twitter.com/9P0YzJOgdi
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) April 27, 2026
Also READ: MS Dhoni stays in Chennai as Gaikwad’s CSK travel to Delhi for the biggest game of their IPL 2026 season
Macneil Noronha: The technical option traveling in reserve
Noronha is 24, from Karnataka, and has been traveling with the CSK squad without yet being officially named in the replacement slot. He is a right-handed batter and off-break bowler, a different profile from both Khan and Vartak, and one that gives CSK a spin-bowling all-round option rather than additional pace.
His T20 numbers are limited, 58 runs from three matches at a strike rate of 161.11 with the bat and an economy of 11.00 with the ball, but his presence in the traveling group alongside Vartak suggests CSK are keeping two options in reserve while they decide which vacancy needs filling most urgently.
With Khaleel Ahmed also unavailable, the balance between pace and spin in the CSK attack is a genuine consideration and Noronha addresses it in a way the other two do not.
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