Ravichandran Ashwin pushes urgent RCB loan move as CSK scramble after Ayush Mhatre injury blow

Ayush Mhatre is the latest setback in what has been a difficult season for CSK, already hampered by multiple injury concerns

Updated on: Apr 21, 2026, 19:35:04 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Ravichandran Ashwin has suggested a potential fix for his former IPL franchise, the Chennai Super Kings, after Ayush Mhatre was ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2026 with a hamstring injury.

Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out of the rest of the IPL 2026 season

Mhatre is the latest setback in what has been a difficult season for CSK, already hampered by multiple injury concerns, including that of MS Dhoni. The India U-19 World Cup-winning captain sustained the injury during Chennai’s previous game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18.

The franchise confirmed on Tuesday that Mhatre, who has been one of their standout batters this season—scoring 201 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 177.87—will miss the rest of IPL 2026, with his rehabilitation expected to take six to 12 weeks.

While Chennai will now be on the lookout for a replacement, Ashwin suggested the franchise explore the loan window to rope in Vihaan Malhotra from Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He pointed out that the window closes after the seventh match and urged CSK to act quickly.

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Ashwin also proposed an alternative, recommending India U-19 wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu as a long-term option, even though he wasn’t part of the IPL auction pool.

“With so many injuries on the horizon! The loan window closes after the 7th game mark & it will be a great idea to loan this sensational talent from RCB. He hasn’t played a single game so far, hence it is a viable option. If not Vihaan, Abhigyan Kundu is also a left-handed option that can be groomed, keeping ‘FUTURE CORE’ in mind,” Ashwin wrote on X.

Ashwin was also asked whether RCB would be willing to loan a player to a direct rival like CSK. The former India spinner explained that, given the contrasting positions of the two teams on the points table, Bengaluru could view it as a commercial opportunity.

“One team is comfortably placed and the other isn’t competing with them at the moment, so there is an opportunity to make some cash. The player also gets a chance to play and will return to the original franchise after a few games,” he added.

What is the IPL loan rule?

The loan window operates between matches 20 and 34 in an IPL season, and players who have featured in 0 to 2 matches are eligible. A loaned player remains with the borrowing franchise for the rest of the season but cannot play against their parent team.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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