Chennai Super Kings (CSK) might have stumbled upon a potential fix for their opening struggles with Sanju Samson stepping in, but they still have a few issues to tackle. It seems almost certain that the Keralam keeper-batter will take the lead at the top of the order for the five-time champions, but the big question remains – who will partner with him? CSK has a couple of choices here. They could stick with their previous strategy and let Ayush Mhatre continue as an opener, or they could shift captain Ruturaj Gaikwad back to the top of the lineup, allowing him to thrive alongside Samson. The team is gearing up to kick off their IPL 2026 campaign on March 30 against the Rajasthan Royals. Who Should CSK Pick as Opener – Mhatre or Gaikwad? Ayush Mhatre has been making waves since he debuted for Mumbai in late 2024 and joined CSK midway through IPL 2025. The young talent brought a much-needed aggressive style to CSK’s top order, which had been lacking before he arrived. With 240 runs from 7 matches at an average of 34.28, Mhatre was definitely one of the bright spots in what turned out to be a tough season for CSK. However, Mhatre’s performance after the IPL 2025 season hasn’t been as impressive. Despite opening for both Mumbai and the India Under-19 team, he faced a mix of results and didn’t make a significant impact. In T20s, he has batted as an opener in 12 out of the 13 matches he’s played so far, with just one appearance at number 3 where he scored 32 runs. Read also: 'I Will Tell Dhoni': Sourav Ganguly’s Blunt Reply on MS Dhoni's IPL Retirement Talk Considering Mhatre’s recent form, it raises the question of why CSK would consider moving him down to number 3 and instead promote Ruturaj Gaikwad to open with Samson. Gaikwad, who has embraced his role as the number 3 batter for the five-time champions, has spent most of his IPL career at the top of the order. In the 71 IPL matches that Gaikwad has played, he’s batted in the top two positions a whopping 60 times. It’s impressive that over 90% of his runs in the IPL have come while he’s been opening the innings, while his performance at number 3 has been rather underwhelming. Gaikwad’s knack for staying calm under pressure, ramping up the scoring when needed, and avoiding risky shots makes him an ideal partner for Sanju Samson. Clearly, Gaikwad shines as an opener rather than batting at number 3 for CSK. He can play more freely at the top of the order, whereas batting at number 3 puts him in a position where he feels the pressure to protect his wicket. Youngster Mhatre is more than capable of adjusting to a new batting role. So, it would be wise for CSK to let Mhatre take the number 3 spot and have Samson open the innings alongside captain Gaikwad in IPL 2026.