Spencer Johnson joins CSK as Ellis ruled out due to injury

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have brought in a new player for the IPL as a replacement for injured Australian pacer Nathan Ellis. Left-arm fast bowler Spencer Johnson has been signed as his replacement and will join the franchise for INR 1.5 crore.

Ellis aggravated an old hamstring injury during the domestic One-Day Cup final on March 11, which has ruled him out of the entire tournament. Although he played only one match for CSK in the 2025 season, the franchise had retained him for INR 2 crore ahead of the auction.

The 30-year-old Johnson has represented Australia in five ODIs and eight T20Is, with a total of 71 T20 matches in his career. However, he has not been a regular in competitive cricket since last IPL due to injury concerns.

Johnson has previously played in the IPL for Gujarat and Kolkata. In the 2024 season, he took four wickets in five matches for Gujarat, while in the following season he managed just one wicket in four matches for Kolkata. Despite going unsold in the 2026 auction, he has now secured a place in the CSK squad.