Former India batter Abhinav Mukund has urged five-time Indian Premier League champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to hold firm on young batter Ayush Mhatre, calling him the franchise's 'next big thing' and ruling out any trade involving the teenager ahead of the IPL 2027 retention deadline on 17 November.

Why Mhatre Is Non-Negotiable for CSK

Mukund was emphatic that Mhatre — who captained India to the U19 World Cup title earlier this year — brings a rare combination of explosive batting and flexibility at the top of the order. 'Ayush Mhatre is not a tradable option. He's the next big thing for CSK, bats at number three, opens the batting, and gives them an explosive start,' Mukund said on JioStar. The 19-year-old is currently recovering from surgery on his right hamstring after suffering a tear during last month's Ranji Trophy campaign and is expected to remain sidelined for two to three months. This follows a separate left hamstring tear he sustained while playing for CSK in the 2025 IPL, which ended his tournament prematurely.

The Case for Trading Urvil Patel

With a crowded top-order that already includes Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, and Sarfaraz Khan, Mukund argued that Urvil Patel — a wicketkeeper-batter known for top-order firepower — has little room to get consistent game time at CSK. 'If CSK are investing in all of the above batters as their future, then they should trade Urvil Patel. He is someone who will benefit a team which needs top-order firepower and a wicketkeeper, and that could work very well,' Mukund said. He suggested keeping Sarfaraz Khan as the backup batter and releasing Patel to a franchise where he would receive regular opportunities ahead of the IPL 2027 auction, scheduled for 16 December in Goa.

Shivam Dube Should Stay, Mukund Insists

Amid ongoing speculation that CSK could part ways with batting all-rounder Shivam Dube, Mukund pushed back firmly. He argued that Dube's left-handed batting in the middle order, ability to neutralise spin, and handy medium-pace overs — particularly on the slow, turning surface at Chepauk — make him irreplaceable. 'If CSK let him go, they will struggle to find a like-for-like replacement at the auction. So, Shivam Dube should stay and for me, keeping him is a no-brainer,' Mukund added. He also noted that if the Impact Player rule is discontinued, Dube's all-round value would become even more critical to the side.

CSK's Broader Rebuild Challenge

Chennai Super Kings have failed to reach the playoffs in each of the last two IPL seasons, raising questions about squad balance and long-term planning. The franchise faces a delicate juggling act: retaining proven performers like Dube while simultaneously investing in youth assets such as Mhatre — all within retention and trade constraints before the 17 November deadline. Notably, the glut of top-order batters is itself a structural concern, with every player in that group competing for a berth in the top four.

How CSK navigate these retention and trade decisions over the coming week could shape their competitiveness for IPL 2027 and beyond.