Ayush Mhatre just can’t seem to catch a break from hamstring injuries. After spending nearly six months away from competitive cricket following an injury during IPL 2026, the CSK youngster has suffered another setback in his first major match back.
The 19-year-old reportedly sustained a Grade 4 tear in his right hamstring during Mumbai’s opening fixture of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season against Chandigarh.
Mhatre, who was recently named Mumbai’s vice-captain, had made a promising start to his innings. He was batting in the 40s when he felt discomfort while running between the wickets. He eventually departed for 48.
Ayush Mhatre Hamstring injury
However, what caught everyone’s attention was that he did not return to the field during Chandigarh’s innings. Substitute fielders took his place before reports confirmed the extent of his injury.
Following the game, Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad said:
“It seems that he will not be with the team for some time now… The way he was limping in the match, it does not look like he would be available for the second or the third match.”
ESPNcricinfo later reported that Mhatre could remain out of action for over a month. Other reports suggest a recovery period of four to six weeks, which means he could miss the remaining matches in the first phase of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy campaign.
This is terrible news for CSK fans, who would never want to see such a promising youngster struggle with recurring injuries. Mhatre’s free-flowing batting and fearless approach have already made him an exciting prospect for Chennai.
For now, everyone will be hoping he makes a full recovery.
Ayush Mhatre’s Performances for CSK
In 2025, Mhatre became the youngest player to represent Chennai Super Kings. He joined the franchise as an injury replacement and immediately made a name for himself.
The youngster scored 240 runs in just seven innings at an impressive strike rate of 189, giving CSK fans a glimpse of his potential.
In his second season, Mhatre could feature in only six innings before a hamstring injury ruled him out of the remainder of IPL 2026. Despite the limited opportunities, he still managed to score 201 runs at a strike rate of nearly 178. His performances across both seasons have shown why CSK rate him so highly. However, his recurring fitness issues have now become a concern.
Mhatre previously underwent rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Hopefully, another carefully managed recovery will help him return stronger and reduce the risk of further injuries.
For CSK, the priority will be getting their young batter back to full fitness rather than rushing his return ahead of IPL 2027.
