Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have selected pacer Spencer Johnson to replace injured Nathan Ellis for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
Ellis, who is unable to compete because of a hamstring injury, will be replaced by Johnson, who will join CSK for Rs 1.5 crore. Johnson has previously played for the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL. He has played 13 international games (5 ODIs and 8 T20Is) for Australia and has taken 18 international wickets.
Nathan Ellis’ absence will undoubtedly hurt CSK’s chances of winning the title as he has established himself as one of the best bowlers in the T20 circuit with a remarkable skill set for death overs.
”Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have picked a player replacement for injured Nathan Ellis for the upcoming TATA Indian Premier League (IPL). Spencer Johnson will join CSK for INR 1.5 Crore as a replacement for Ellis. Johnson, who has played 13 international games – 5 ODIs and 8 T20Is – for Australia & has 18 international wickets against his name, has previously represented Gujarat Titans (GT) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL,” IPL said in a statement.
Aside from Johnson, CSK’s remaining speed options with Ellis out of the squad include all-rounders Jamie Overton and Shivam Dube, New Zealand’s Zak Foulkes, uncapped Indian pacers Gurjanpreet Singh and Mukesh Chaudhary, and New Zealand mainstay Matt Henry.
The Super Kings’ pace battery appears to be led by Henry, although CSK lacks a known death overs expert.
Johnson played just four games for the three-time IPL champions KKR during the previous season, taking one wicket with his best figures of 1/42.
On March 30, CSK’s season will begin in Guwahati against the first-ever champions, the Rajasthan Royals.
