Australian all-rounder Matthew Short was bought by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 1.50 crore at the ongoing IPL 2026 mini-auction, with the franchise picking him up at his base price. This marks Short’s return to the IPL after going unsold in the 2025 mega auction.
Short has had limited exposure in the Indian Premier League so far. He has played six IPL matches, all for Punjab Kings during the 2023 season, where he featured as a replacement for the injured Jonny Bairstow. In those appearances, Short scored 117 runs at an average of 19.50 and a strike rate of 127.17, with a highest score of 36. He did not pick up any wickets in that stint.
Despite his modest IPL numbers, Short carries strong credentials in international and domestic T20 cricket. He is a regular part of Australia’s T20 setup and rose to prominence after being named Player of the Tournament in the 2022–23 Big Bash League, where he impressed with his aggressive top-order batting and useful off-spin bowling.
For the IPL 2026 mini-auction, Short had set a base price of Rs 1.5 crore and initially went without a bid in the early rounds before CSK secured him later. Chennai Super Kings’ move reflects their focus on backing proven T20 performers, even if their IPL sample size is limited, as they look to add flexibility and depth to their squad for the upcoming season.
