IPL | Jolt for CSK as hamstring injury lays Ellis low

CSK faces a major setback as Nathan Ellis's hamstring injury rules him out of IPL 2026, prompting replacement plans.

Dr. Iyappan Ponnuswamy, Medical Director, Kauvery Hospital, Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-founder and Executive Director of Kauvery Group of Hospitals and Dr. S. Sivaram Kannan, Clinical Lead & Chief Consultant Physician, Kauvery Hospital, with K.S. Viswananthan, MD, Chennai Super Kings at the function to announce the tie-up as an official partner. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Chennai Super Kings suffered a big blow ahead of the IPL 2026, with Nathan Ellis set to be ruled out of the competition. The 31-year-old Australian fast bowler has suffered a hamstring injury and won’t recover in time.

“It is a big blow for us. Ellis is a crucial bowler, especially in the death overs. We are looking at replacements,” said CSK CEO K.S. Viswanthan to The Hindu on Thursday during an event to announce Kauvery Hospitals as an official partner of the team.

The hospital’s medical director Dr. Iyappan Ponnuswamy, Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, co-founder and executive director, and Dr. S. Sivaram Kannan, clinical lead & chief consultant physician, were present on the occasion.

The loss of Ellis could force a major rethink of plans for the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led outfit.

Since 2022, the team had relied on Matheesha Pathirana as the death-overs specialist, but released the Sri Lankan pacer after a disappointing campaign last year.