Delhi: Ayush Mhatre, the young batsman who scored the most runs this season for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has been ruled out of IPL 2026 due to hamstring injury. CSK is now looking for his replacement. In such a situation, there is a unique rule of IPL, by which CSK can take a player as loan from any team.

Meanwhile, former Indian legend Ravichandran Ashwin has requested CSK to take advantage of the loan rule of IPL to include young player Vihaan Malhotra from Royal Challengers Bangalore in the team. Let us tell you that Vihaan has not played even a single match for RCB till now.

What is IPL loan window?

The loan window of IPL is a rule under which teams can add players from other franchises for some time. If a team’s players get injured, it can take the player on ‘loan’ from another team.

However, only those players can be included in the team, who have played a maximum of two matches. This loan window remains open between match 7 to 34.
The player who comes on loan plays the remaining matches of the season for the same team, but he cannot play against his old (parent) team.

Ashwin gave suggestion to CSK

Ashwin said that the loan window closes after the seventh match and he advised CSK to take immediate action and include Vihaan in the team. Apart from Vihaan, Ashwin also suggested preparing Under-19 batsman Abhigyan Kundu for the future.

Ashwin wrote on X, “Given so many injuries, the loan window closes after the 7th match, so taking a great player like Vihaan from RCB on loan would be a good option. He has not played a single match yet, so it is possible. If not Vihaan, then Abhigyan Kundu is also a left-handed option, who can be drafted keeping the future in mind.”

Now it remains to be seen whether CSK accepts Ashwin’s suggestion and includes Vihaan from RCB in the team or brings some other player. The biggest question will be that if CSK demands this player from RCB, will RCB give that player to CSK.