Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finished 8th in the IPL 2026 points table. This was yet another poor performance from the five-time IPL champions since Ruturaj Gaikwad took over full-time from MS Dhoni. CSK last won the IPL in 2023 and has not reached the playoffs since the 2024 IPL.
Apart from injuries and unavailability, there were several other factors that the CSK franchise will consider when they unveil their list of released players on or before the November 15 deadline ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. Amongst these players there will be several overseas players, and let’s look at 3 potential such players who might get sacked by CSK.
Here are the 3 overseas players CSK might release ahead of the IPL 2027 mini-auction:
3. Dian Forrester
South African batter Dian Forrester was included in the CSK squad after an impressive performance in SA20 for sister franchise Joburg Super Kings, where he scored 175 runs with a strike rate of 165.09. He has played 5 T20Is for South Africa as well and has 997 runs in 52 T20Is with a strike rate of 136.01. He was picked as a finisher for CSK but didn’t get a single game in IPL 2026.
2. Spencer Johnson
Left-arm Australian pacer Spencer Johnson made his IPL debut for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024 and also played for KKR in IPL 2025. However, in 12 games, he has 7 wickets at an economy of 10.33, figures that didn’t impress anyone. Even in IPL 2026, Johnson played 3 games, taking 2 wickets at an economy of 10.18. He is unlikely to retain his place in the CSK lineup, as they are in serious need of a death-overs bowler, and Johnson didn’t justify himself.
1. Matt Henry
Matt Henry is the premier pacer for New Zealand since the retirements of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, but his IPL numbers are poor. He has played 9 games for three franchises and picked 4 wickets. In IPL 2026, he played 3 games for CSK, taking 2 wickets at an economy of 13. Such poor numbers led to Henry warming the bench for the majority of the time. He was to lead the pace attack in the absence of Nathan Ellis but failed to do so.
