Chennai Super Kings announce replacement for injured Ramakrishna Ghosh in IPL 2026

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The injury troubles continue to pile up for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026. In another major setback, young all-rounder Ramakrishna Ghosh has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering a fractured right foot during CSK’s clash against the earlier this month. With the business end of the season approaching, the five-time champions have now brought in a replacement for Ghosh for the remainder of IPL 2026.

Ghosh’s IPL journey this season, unfortunately, lasted just one match. The bowling all-rounder made his debut against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at Chepauk and showed promising signs despite limited opportunities. He impressed in the field with a sharp diving catch to dismiss Will Jacks and also picked up the important wicket of Suryakumar Yadav during the contest.

However, the youngster appeared uncomfortable physically after landing awkwardly in his bowling follow-through while delivering to Naman Dhir. Subsequent scans later confirmed a fracture in his right foot, ruling him out for the rest of the tournament.

CSK later confirmed the development in an official statement, while head coach Stephen Fleming also expressed disappointment over the setback. Fleming praised Ghosh’s rapid improvement in recent academy sessions and highlighted his growth as a genuine all-round option for the franchise.

To fill the vacancy, Chennai have turned towards one of Karnataka cricket’s rising names. Macneil Hadley Noronha joins the squad for INR 30 lakh after earning recognition through consistent performances in domestic cricket over the past year. The 24-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in the 2024-25 Colonel CK Nayudu Trophy, where he finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 1037 runs at an impressive average close to 80. His performances earned him the prestigious MA Chidambaram Trophy at the Naman Awards.

Noronha also made headlines during the 2025 Maharaja Trophy while representing the Mangaluru Dragons. He scored 253 runs at a strike rate nearing 149 and smashed 19 sixes during the title-winning campaign. Apart from his aggressive batting, the off-spinning all-rounder also contributed with 10 wickets, including a crucial spell in the final against Hubli Tigers. His domestic rise eventually led to a call-up for Karnataka in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he featured in three matches and showed glimpses of his all-round ability.

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CSK’s season has been heavily disrupted by injuries across departments. The franchise has already dealt with the absence of key players like Khaleel Ahmed, Ayush Mhatre and Nathan Ellis at different stages of the campaign. Meanwhile, uncertainty also continues around MS Dhoni, who has been managing a calf strain since the beginning of the season.

Despite the setbacks, Chennai remain firmly in the playoff race and currently sits fifth on the IPL 2026 points table. With the tournament entering a decisive phase, the franchise will now hope Noronha can provide valuable depth and energy to an injury-hit squad.

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