Anshul Kamboj projects at 0.30 WAR per match for IPL 2026, which would make him one of the highest-value bowlers on CSK's roster. His Ecae of 1.18 means he concedes more than a run per over less than expected for his bowling phases. His bowling WAR/M of 0.32 and bowling surplus of 26 confirm genuine skill above replacement.

Yet Kamboj does not make the optimal XII. The reason is structural: CSK's bowling attack is already allocated, and Kamboj's small sample size creates projection risk that the model penalizes.

Why Not in the XII?

Kamboj has bowled just 231 career bowling balls across 14 T20 matches. His IPL confidence of 53% reflects the limited crossover between his domestic T20 performance and IPL-level competition. The model regresses his raw WAR/M of 0.32 to a projected 0.30, which is still strong.

The XII already includes Rahul Chahar as the New Ball specialist, Noor Ahmad and Hosein as middle-overs spinners, Khaleel Ahmed at the death, and Kartik Sharma as the fifth bowler. Kamboj's powerplay concentration (98% of his career bowling in the PP) overlaps with Chahar's 79% powerplay assignment. Adding Kamboj would mean removing Chahar or creating redundancy.

Bowling Profile

Kamboj is a powerplay-phase pace bowler. His PP economy of 8.1 with a 43% dot rate and 7 wickets in 21.5 overs shows new-ball skill. The sample is small but the quality indicators are real.

Path to Selection

Kamboj's most direct route into the XI is replacing Kartik Sharma (0.03 projected WAR/M). That swap would require CSK to restructure the bowling phases: Kamboj takes powerplay overs from Chahar, and Chahar shifts to a mixed PP/middle role. Alternatively, if Chahar underperforms early in the tournament, Kamboj is the natural replacement.

His domestic status means he does not affect the overseas balance, which makes the swap frictionless from a roster construction standpoint.

What This Means for IPL 2026

Kamboj is CSK's most likely bowling change during the season. His 0.30 projected WAR/M significantly exceeds Kartik Sharma's 0.03, and if the small-sample regression is too conservative, Kamboj could be one of the breakout bowlers of the tournament. His xImpact of 47 marks him as a contributor whose ceiling is higher than several current XII members.