Chennai Super Kings have signed Spencer Johnson as a replacement for Nathan Ellis ahead of IPL 2026, moving swiftly after the Australian pacer was ruled out due to injury. The late change comes as a setback for CSK, who had built their bowling plans around Ellis as the leader of their pace attack. Spencer Johnson brings pace and variation Johnson offers a different profile. The left-arm pacer relies on pace, bounce and angles rather than variations. He regularly clocks speeds above 140 km/h and can trouble batters with his natural trajectory. In T20 cricket, Johnson has picked up over 40 wickets at an economy rate of around 8.5, showing his ability to contribute across phases. In the Big Bash League, he has been effective for Brisbane Heat, including key performances in knockout matches. He also featured in the IPL previously, where he played a handful of matches and picked up wickets while maintaining a steady economy. While he is still developing as a death bowler, his pace makes him a strong option in the powerplay and middle overs.