Daijiworld Media Network – Chennai/Mangaluru
Chennai/Mangaluru, May 13: In a proud moment for the coastal region, Mangaluru-rooted Karnataka all-rounder Macneil Hadley Noronha has been signed by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the remainder of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. He comes in as a replacement for uncapped player Ramakrishna Ghosh, who has been ruled out due to an injury.
Noronha joins the five-time champion franchise for his base price of Rs 30 lac. The 24-year-old, whose family traces its roots to Mangaluru, has been making significant waves in the domestic circuit. He recently played a stellar role for the Mangaluru Dragons in the Maharaja Trophy T20 tournament, contributing heavily with both bat and ball to help the franchise secure the title.
The young all-rounder's call-up to the grand IPL stage follows a string of phenomenal domestic performances. He was recently honoured with the MA Chidambaram Trophy at the BCCI's Naman Awards after finishing as the highest run-getter in the 2024-25 Colonel CK Nayudu Trophy. He amassed a staggering 1,037 runs in just eight matches during the tournament, a feat that included two rare triple centuries.
His explosive form and off-spin abilities subsequently earned him a spot in Karnataka’s senior Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy squad, where he featured in three T20 matches, showcasing his ability to score briskly and pick up crucial wickets.
The replacement move comes after Ramakrishna Ghosh suffered a right foot injury during CSK’s clash against the Mumbai Indians on May 3. Ghosh had just made an impactful IPL debut in that very match, claiming the crucial wicket of a dangerous-looking Suryakumar Yadav and returning with impressive figures of 1 for 24 in his three overs.
With CSK fighting hard for a playoff berth, Noronha's addition provides useful depth to the squad's middle order and spin department. After a difficult start to the season, Chennai has revived its campaign with six wins from their last eight games.
Their next challenge is a crucial fixture against the Lucknow Super Giants on May 15, which they will view as a must-win before wrapping up the league stage against SunRisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans. With 18 points widely expected to be the qualification benchmark this season, Chennai will likely need to win all three of their remaining fixtures to secure a top-four finish.
Noronha walks into a camp that has rediscovered its momentum at the right time, hoping to make a strong impact if called upon during the high-pressure business end of the tournament.