With the 2026 IPL Auction expected to take place in December, all franchises are busy finalising their squads for the upcoming season. Before that, November 15 has been set as the deadline for teams to announce their Player Retention and Release Lists. As seen every year, the Indian Premier League continues to unearth fresh talent — young players who make an immediate impact on the grand stage. Franchises will once again be on the lookout for these rising stars to strengthen their rosters for the new season.
CSK’s Duo Targets
Among them, the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already identified a few promising names on their radar. Two players who are on the list of CSK 2026 Target Players are Mohamed Ali and Sonu Yadav, both seen as potential targets for the 2026 season.
Who is Mohamed Ali?
We’ve all heard of the legendary late boxer Muhammad Ali, but this time the spotlight is on Tamil Nadu’s 21-year-old off-spinning all-rounder, Mohamed Ali, a rising talent who has already made his mark across all domestic formats. Ali made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu against Railways in early 2024 at Coimbatore. So far, he has enjoyed a good run in the multi-day format, showcasing his promise with both bat and ball, picking up 8 wickets and scoring 327 runs across 9 matches.
His consistent performances in the longer format earned him a place in the T20 side, where he made his debut against Karnataka at Indore in December 2024. Around the same time, he received his List A cap against Uttar Pradesh, further proving his versatility. Across 9 matches in T20S and List A combined, Mohamed Ali has taken 3 wickets and added 250 runs to his tally — solid numbers for a young all-rounder adapting to different formats.
Mohamed Ali played a crucial knock for Tamil Nadu. 🔥#TNvUP #VHT #VijayHazareTrophy #TamilNaduCricket #TNCA #TNCricket pic.twitter.com/tfsTory2QC
— TNCA (@TNCACricket) December 26, 2024
The Tamil Nadu selectors have already rated Mohamed Ali highly, viewing him as a player worth investing in for the future. His potential was first noticed during the 2023 Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), where he made his debut for iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, though he played only a single match that season.
By 2024 and 2025, Ali became a regular member of the side, appearing in 18 TNPL matches overall. While his recent TNPL 2025 stats, 100 runs and 2 wickets, might appear modest, his temperament, skill set, and ability to contribute in multiple departments have placed him firmly in the Chennai Super Kings’ radar ahead of the 2026 IPL season.
Eye on Sonu Yadav
In the shortest format of the game, seaming all-rounders are worth their weight in gold, and Sonu Yadav is one of those rare finds. At 25 years old, the right-arm seamer from Tamil Nadu has quickly built a reputation as a dependable match-winner who can deliver with both bat and ball.
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Known for his ability to take crucial wickets across different phases of the innings, Sonu brings versatility and balance to any side he plays for. With the bat, he’s equally destructive, capable of clearing boundaries with ease and turning games around in just a few overs. Having already represented Tamil Nadu across all formats, Sonu has compiled 222 runs and 39 wickets, underlining his status as one of the state’s most complete cricketers. His breakthrough year came in TNPL 2025, where he topped the wicket charts with 16 scalps in 7 matches. Adding to his all-around value, he also scored 133 runs in 6 innings at an impressive average of 33.25, earning recognition as one of the standout performers of the season.
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It’s no surprise that he is on the CSK 2026 Target Players list. His ability to contribute in both departments aligns perfectly with CSK’s tradition of backing multi-dimensional players who thrive under pressure.
Born in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Sonu Yadav moved to Tamil Nadu at a young age with his family, where he honed his cricketing skills. He made his T20 debut for Tamil Nadu in January 2021 against Jharkhand, followed by his List A debut a month later against Punjab. After a steady climb through the ranks, Sonu finally earned his first-class cap in October 2024 against Saurashtra, a milestone that marked his growth as a complete cricketer. With his form peaking and his confidence soaring, Sonu Yadav is shaping up to be the next big name to emerge from Tamil Nadu’s cricketing system, and possibly a bright addition to the CSK setup in the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
🚨 2 Tamilnadu All-Rounders on CSK Radar for #IPL2026 !!
1) Mohamed Ali- Off Spin + Bat
2) Sonu Yadav – Pace bowling All rounder (part of RCB 2023 squad)Source: Rohit Juglan yt pic.twitter.com/nXXnGd6NAC
— Navneet 🚩 (@MSDian067) November 1, 2025
Conclusion
It’s encouraging to see the performances of Mohamed Ali and Sonu Yadav being recognised by a renowned franchise like CSK. Their inclusion in the CSK 2026 Target Players list reflects how IPL teams are increasingly willing to invest in promising domestic talent. CSK has traditionally been cautious with recruits, often allowing young players to develop by observing and learning from the senior core before breaking into the playing XI. The hope, however, is that Mohamed Ali and Sonu Yadav get the chance to showcase their abilities sooner rather than later.
