Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have made a new signing for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, bringing in Macneil Hadley Noronha as a replacement for the injured Ramakrishna Ghosh. The franchise announced the move on Wednesday, adding depth to their squad ahead of the crucial phase of the tournament.
Who is Macneil Hadley Noronha?
Macneil Hadley Noronha is a 23-year-old all-rounder from Goa, known for his right-handed batting and right-arm medium-fast bowling. He has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, representing Goa in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. Noronha made his T20 debut in 2023 and has since impressed with his ability to contribute with both bat and ball.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Noronha has scored 245 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 135.36, along with picking up 8 wickets. His best performance came against Mizoram, where he scored 68 runs off 45 balls and took 2 wickets. He is also a reliable fielder, often patrolling the boundary line.
Why was he signed?
CSK needed a replacement for Ramakrishna Ghosh, who suffered a hamstring injury during a training session and is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks. The franchise management opted for Noronha due to his versatility and familiarity with the conditions in Chennai. CSK's head coach Stephen Fleming said, "Macneil has shown great promise in domestic cricket. He can bat in the middle order and bowl useful overs, which fits our team balance."
Noronha will join the CSK squad immediately and is available for selection in their next match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He will wear jersey number 27.
Career highlights
- Made T20 debut for Goa in 2023 against Kerala.
- Scored his maiden T20 fifty in 2024 against Tamil Nadu.
- Has a best bowling figure of 3/18 in T20s.
- Represented India U19 in an unofficial ODI series against England U19 in 2022.
Noronha's addition provides CSK with more options in the all-rounder department, which already includes the likes of Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Chahar. The team is currently placed third in the IPL 2026 points table with 12 points from 10 matches.
