Chennai: Chennai Super Kings remains certain it can secure victories in all its remaining fixtures of the 2026 Indian Premier League and capture the championship, fast bowler Spencer Johnson announced Sunday ahead of the team's upcoming game against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.

The Super Kings currently occupy the sixth position in the league standings with 12 points. To enhance their postseason prospects, the franchise must secure victories in both of their remaining preliminary matches, ideally by significant margins, to elevate their Net Run Rate.

Despite the competitive stakes, Johnson remained highly optimistic about the team's trajectory.

“I think we won three in a row recently. So, we’ll make it four in a row from here and then lift the trophy,” the Australian paceman said.

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Navigating Hyderabad's PowerPlay Threat

Faced with a highly productive Hyderabad batting lineup guided by Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen, Chennai anticipates a stern challenge. In their previous encounter this season, Sharma and Travis Head propelled Hyderabad to a total of 75 runs during the initial six overs.

Johnson emphasised that the opening PowerPlay phase would once again serve as a critical turning point for both squads.

“I think the PowerPlay is so important for any team, whether with the bat or ball. You don’t necessarily win the game there, but you can definitely lose it. So, we obviously want to start well,” Johnson noted. “They’re two world-class players. I think they’re among the best in the world in T20 cricket, so we’ll do our research on them. We’re playing them at home, so I feel like we’ve got an advantage there. It can be a little bouncier than what they’re used to in Hyderabad, and we’ll use that to our advantage. We’ve got our tactics for tomorrow and plenty of left-armers to swing the ball away from them, so we’re excited for the challenge.”

Roster Integration and Franchise Experience

The 30-year-old left-arm bowler was added to the Chennai roster as an injury replacement for fellow Australian speedster Nathan Ellis, though Johnson's own entry required him to pass physical evaluations before joining the league. He recorded figures of 1-39 across four overs during his franchise debut in the previous match against the Lucknow Super Giants.

The quick expressed gratitude toward the coaching staff and leadership for easing his transition into the lineup.

“I was very excited for the opportunity when Flem (Stephen Fleming) reached out about four weeks ago. I feel like the work Eric (Eric Simons), our bowling coach, has done in training has really helped me get up to speed. It’s been a busy couple of weeks, but I felt very backed by Flem, Eric, and Ritu (Ruturaj Gaikwad),” Johnson said.

Reflecting on his tenure with the five-time champions, Johnson described the assignment as a unique milestone in his professional career.

“There’s always going to be pressure in this tournament – it’s the best in the world. I’m playing for probably the best franchise in the world, so just being here is a privilege,” Johnson concluded. “I don’t know if you saw it on TV the other night, but I was trying to smile and enjoy the game because it’s a game we all love. Playing for CSK is an unbelievable experience. It’s challenging, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world.”