Chennai Super Kings have turned to Australian left-arm quick Spencer Johnson after Nathan Ellis was ruled out of IPL 2026 with a hamstring relapse.
Ellis aggravated the long-standing problem during the domestic One-Day Cup final on 11 March and, following medical advice, CSK confirmed he will take no further part in the tournament. “It’s obviously disappointing for Nathan,” bowling coach Eric Simons said in a brief statement, “but we have to move on quickly.”
Johnson, 30, joins for INR 1.5 crore – a modest fee compared with the INR 10 crore Gujarat Titans paid for him in the accelerated round of the 2024 auction. Back then he was a headline grabber; this time he arrives under the radar, having not played top-flight cricket since suffering a back injury during last season’s IPL.
The left-armer has five ODIs and eight T20Is for Australia, plus 71 senior T20s overall. When fit he offers high pace with natural variation, particularly in the final overs – skills that appealed to head coach Stephen Fleming. “Spencer brings something different: a left-armer who can bowl quickly and swing it late,” Fleming said in the club release. “We’ve kept an eye on his rehab and he’s bowling without pain.”
Johnson’s IPL record is mixed: four wickets in five outings for Titans in 2024, followed by a single wicket in four games for Kolkata Knight Riders the following year. KKR released him before the 2026 auction and he went unsold, largely because of that back issue. CSK now believe he is over the worst of it; their medical staff cleared him after a fitness assessment in Chennai earlier this week.
With Johnson on board, CSK’s overseas pace group reads: Matt Henry, Jamie Overton, Zak Foulkes and the newcomer himself. The domestic seam pool comprises Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh and Mukesh Choudhary, while all-rounders Shivam Dube and Aman Khan provide additional pace options. Simons suggested rotation is likely: “The schedule is tight, so we’ll use everyone at some stage.”
Ellis had been retained for INR 2 crore despite playing only once last season. A reliable operator at the death, his absence changes CSK’s balance, but the coaching staff seem comfortable backing Johnson’s upside. Whether the gamble pays off will become clear once he returns to competitive cricket – his first since last year’s disappointment.
For now, Super Kings supporters will hope the change is seamless and that Johnson, bruised but refreshed after a year out, can rediscover the rhythm that once made him a hot property.
