IPL 2026: 4 Teams that could finish in bottom four
The cases here rest on squad construction decisions that are likely to compound rather than self-correct as the season progresses.
1) Chennai Super Kings — Grade: D
CSK retained Dhoni at ₹4 crore ahead of IPL 2025. The squad relied on his lower-middle-order finishing, calm under collapse, and late-innings firepower. Five IPL titles suggested that assumption was correct—until CSK won just four matches from fourteen in 2025, finishing 10th, anchoring the table for the first time.
For IPL 2026, the squad traded Jadeja and Curran for Sanju Samson, with a spin-heavy bowling attack (Noor Ahmad, Rahul Chahar, Akeal Hosein) and pace group (Nathan Ellis, Matt Henry, Zak Foulkes, Jamie Overton, Khaleel Ahmed). None have proven death-bowling credentials (economy under 8.00 in overs 17-20).
On April 6, 2026, CSK lost to RCB by 43 runs. Dhoni did not play. Without him, the batting lacked a settled finisher, and the pace attack lacked a death specialist. For CSK to escape the bottom four, Dhoni must return fit, at least two pacers must become death specialists, and the Samson-Gaikwad combo must stabilize the opening platform.
Bottom Four Risk Summary
| Team | IPL 2025 Finish | Key Absence | Structural Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSK | 10th (4 wins) | Dhoni injured (first 2 weeks) | No death-bowling specialist; squad built around a 44-year-old |
| RR | 9th (4 wins) | Sam Curran (entire season) | Traded bowling depth for batting; still at 2025's win total |
| KKR | 8th (5 wins) | Andre Russell (retired) | No like-for-like dual-threat replacement; Pathirana fitness uncertain |
| SRH | 6th (from 2024 final) | Brydon Carse (early matches) | Batting-only template has no floor when top 4 fail |
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