Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has raised concerns over Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) death bowling options for IPL 2026, which begins on March 28. In a major development on Thursday, March 19, Sportstar reported that Nathan Ellis will miss the upcoming season due to a hamstring injury.

Speaking on his YouTube channel on Friday, March 20, Pathan questioned who would handle the death overs for the franchise. He noted that Anshul Kamboj is an option, having made his Test debut last year. However, Pathan pointed out that while Kamboj can bowl yorkers, the team needs a more reliable option in such situations. He also mentioned that Matheesha Pathirana, who used to perform this role for CSK, was released after the 2025 season. He said:

“You have Anshul Kambhoj as an option, but he is still a bit new. He has played international Test cricket, and he has faced some criticism, but we have seen that he has good seam and can bowl very well with the new ball. He can also bowl yorkers. But under pressure, you need a solid bowler. Pathirana used to perform this role for many years, but when he went to the auction, due to injuries and inconsistent performance, you let him go. Now Chennai no longer has him. So who will fill that role? This is a very big question.”

The 41-year-old further pointed out that while Khaleel Ahmed is an excellent new-ball bowler, if he delivers three overs upfront and one at the death, it still leaves a gap. He questioned who would handle the remaining overs, noting that no clear specialist for the death overs comes to mind. He said:

“But when we look at the bowling, when you talk about a proper death bowler, that name doesn’t really come to mind. You have Khaleel Ahmed, a top-quality new-ball bowler. He performed very well last year, and you want to get three overs out of him there. But if he bowls one over, then who will bowl the remaining overs at the end?”

CSK will begin their campaign on March 30 when they face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati.

“Nathan Ellis’s absence will be a big concern” – Irfan Pathan on Australia star missing IPL 2026 for CSK

In the same video, Irfan Pathan noted that Nathan Ellis’s absence will be a concern for CSK, as the right-arm seamer was a key option in the death overs, and without him, the bowling unit appears weaker. He said:

“Nathan Ellis’s absence will be a big concern because he was the kind of bowler I was watching who could comfortably bowl four overs, especially in the final parts when he would bowl during the death overs. Now, looking at their bowling unit, it seems there is a bit of weakness.”

Ellis has played 17 IPL matches, picking up 19 wickets at an average of 28.73, with a strike rate of 19.8 and an economy of 8.66, including best figures of 4/30.