Chennai Super Kings will host a grand reunion event at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on March 22, inviting several former players to mark the launch of their IPL 2026 campaign. Around 19 to 20 former CSK stars are expected to attend alongside the current squad and support staff.
The event will run from 4 PM to 9 PM and feature a performance by Oscar-winning music director AR Rahman.
Which Former CSK Players Will Attend the Reunion
Franchise legend Suresh Raina, popularly known as Chinna Thala, has confirmed his presence at the event. Former players currently serving as coaching staff with other IPL teams have also accepted the invitation.
Muttiah Muralitharan of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Matthew Hayden of Gujarat Titans, and Dwayne Bravo of Kolkata Knight Riders have all confirmed attendance. CSK reached out to rival franchises to check if their coaching staff could be released for a day.
However, R Ashwin will miss the event as he will be out of Chennai. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed the off-spinner’s absence due to prior commitments outside the city.
CSK Dismiss Speculation Around Major Announcement
The planned gathering triggered curiosity across IPL circles, with rumours suggesting a major announcement could follow. Viswanathan moved quickly to shut down the speculation. He called it a pre-launch event for the season and a fan engagement exercise with nothing more to read into it.
CSK IPL 2026 Early Season Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| March 30 | Rajasthan Royals | Guwahati |
| April 3 | Punjab Kings | Chennai |
India’s T20 World Cup heroes Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube will join the CSK camp before the reunion event. The squad has been training in Chennai since March 1.
The five-time champions begin their IPL 2026 campaign with an away fixture against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30 before returning home to face Punjab Kings on April 3.
