After their worst season in 18 years, Chennai finished bottom of the table in 2025 with only four wins from 14 matches. The five-time champions now face decisions that could reshape the franchise.
For a team built on continuity, watching Sam Curran and Devon Conway possibly leave signals something shifted. MS Dhoni might play one final season. Ruturaj Gaikwad fractured his elbow mid-tournament and watched helplessly as CSK collapsed.
The mini auction arrives when the Yellow Army needs to answer whether loyalty still builds titles or if fresh blood matters more.
What the franchise chooses to keep tells us who they think they are. What they let go of reveals who they need to become. Let’s discuss and find out.
Players Released By CSK Ahead Of IPL 2026
CSK is planning to trim their roster to inject capital and flexibility into a squad that conceded too many overs to pedestrian pace bowlers and watched batters fail to accelerate when matches demanded it.
These are the players CSK will most likely release:
- Sam Curran
- Devon Conway
- Rahul Tripathi
- Deepak Hooda
- Vijay Shankar
- Ravichandran Ashwin (retired)
Curran cost INR 2 crore across his appearances but delivered one wicket in the 2025 season before making the most of his 114 runs in a single innings.
The all-rounder never solved the puzzle of providing penetration with the new ball or stability in the middle order at Chepauk.
Conway scored 156 runs in six appearances at a strike rate barely above 130, and CSK retired him against Punjab Kings because he couldn’t lift the tempo past accumulation. Releasing him makes sense when form collapses meet strategic needs.
Ashwin’s retirement freed Rs 9.75 crore immediately, as he announced it after the IPL season ended. Tripathi collected 55 runs across five innings, unable to make the No. 3 spot his own.
Hooda managed 31 runs in seven games before losing his spot entirely. Together, these releases will generate between Rs 27-30 crore in capital that matters because CSK needs pace bowlers who take wickets, and a finisher who produces carnage.
Releasing Conway looks defensible by stats. Letting Curran go feels right when one wicket and single-innings heroics don’t justify premium contracts.
CSK Retained Players 2026
CSK is most likely going to retain these ten players, who balance proven match-winners with developing options and preserve their spin-first strategy while acknowledging pace bowling gaps that cost them repeatedly in 2025.
| No. | Player Name | Position / Role | Notable 2025 Stat or Reason for Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Captain, Opening batter | 2502 CSK runs at 40.35 average; leadership and top order stability. |
| 2 | Ravindra Jadeja | All rounder | 2198 runs and 143 wickets for CSK in 186 matches; multi-role and fielding value. |
| 3 | MS Dhoni | Wicket-keeper batter / Mentor | 4865 runs historically; mentorship role. |
| 4 | Matheesha Pathirana | Fast bowler | 47 wickets in 32 games; frontline pace spearhead and death overs specialist. |
| 5 | Shivam Dube | All rounder | 1460 CSK runs at a strike rate of 151.6; middle-order power option against spin. |
| 6 | Dewald Brevis | Batter | 225 runs in 6 matches at SR 180 in 2025; powerful middle-order prospect. |
| 7 | Rachin Ravindra | Batter | 413 runs in 18 games; left-handed balance and top-order option. |
| 8 | Noor Ahmad | Spinner | 24 wickets in 14 games in 2025; strong middle-over wicket taker. |
| 9 | Khaleel Ahmed | Fast bowler | 15 wickets in 14 games; left arm angle, new ball utility. |
| 10 | Anshul Kamboj | Fast bowler | 8 wickets at an economy of eight; young Indian seamer with upside. |
Each player on this list either proved themselves when the season turned hostile or represents an investment in what comes next. Their roles at Chepauk vary from Dhoni’s likely final campaign to Brevis learning patience before violence.
1. Ruturaj Gaikwad
The opener accumulated 2502 runs across 71 CSK matches at an average of nearly 40, even when results spiralled. He became the fastest Indian to reach 2000 IPL runs in 57 innings, when most needed 65 or more.
In 2025, he scored 122 runs before fracturing his radial neck against Rajasthan. He kept batting through pain to make 66 from 44 balls, the kind of innings that earns captaincy retention during wooden spoon seasons.
His consistency at the top allows CSK to build innings knowing one anchor usually delivers 40 or 50 when partners fail.
2. Ravindra Jadeja
The all-rounder passed Dwayne Bravo as CSK’s highest wicket-taker during 2025, reaching 143 wickets across 186 appearances. He contributed 2198 runs at an average of 28.54 with explosive late-order hitting.
In May, he surpassed Bravo’s 140-wicket mark against Kolkata when his first delivery produced a wicket.
His fielding in the circle transforms what batters attempt because his arm produces run-outs from angles most never try. He took just eight wickets in 2024, his worst return, but might retain his spot because his other dimensions still affected results.
3. MS Dhoni
Dhoni accumulated 4865 runs for CSK across 16 seasons, a number that matters less than the five titles his presence delivered. He stepped down as captain before 2024 but returned to lead when Gaikwad fractured his elbow.
At 44 years old, his batting performances came in cameos rather than centuries, and his strike rate in 2025 hovered below 150.
The franchise values his mentorship more than his batting now. If he plays, he provides leadership views that few teams possess. If he retires, his absence reshapes everything about CSK’s identity.
4. Matheesha Pathirana
The Sri Lankan collected 47 wickets across 32 IPL appearances through his sling action and yorker accuracy. He took 13 wickets in six matches during 2024 before a hamstring injury ended his campaign.
The 2025 season proved harder as his wicket tally fell to nine in eight games and his economy ballooned to 10.47 after he altered his bowling action during the SA20.
He delivered four wickets for 28 runs against the Mumbai Indians in 2024, dismantling their middle order. His role shapes CSK’s entire pace attack because they built their strategy around having a genuine wicket-taking quick.
5. Shivam Dube
The left-hander contributed 1460 runs for CSK since 2022, striking them consistently above 150. He scored 396 runs in IPL 2024 at a strike rate of 162.29, leading CSK’s run charts while clearing boundaries with minimal effort.
His ability to attack spinners through the middle overs solved a recurring problem where matches stagnated between overs 10 and 15.
He hit 28 sixes in 14 innings during 2024. CSK need his power against spin because most surfaces assist turn, and batters who sweep effectively determine whether teams reach competitive totals.
6. Dewald Brevis
The South African joined CSK mid-season and produced 225 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 180. He arrived when CSK sat at the bottom, desperate for middle-order acceleration and delivered immediately, scoring 42 from 25 balls on debut against Sunrisers.
He scored 291 runs in 12 SA20 matches before CSK signed him, striking at 184.17 for MI Cape Town.
CSK will most probably retain him because power-hitters aged 21 who strike above 180 don’t grow on trees, and his ceiling looks considerably higher than his current output.
7. Rachin Ravindra
The New Zealander accumulated 413 runs across 18 CSK appearances, offering left-handed balance at the top. He began IPL 2025 strongly with 65 not out against Mumbai, followed by 41 against RCB, before his form dipped.
He averaged 24.29 during 2025 with a strike rate of 143.90. His value emerges through providing top-order variety when Gaikwad opens, allowing a right-left combination that complicates bowling plans.
8. Noor Ahmad
The Afghan spinner collected 24 wickets in 14 matches during 2025, finishing as CSK’s highest wicket-taker despite the team winning just four games.
He took four wickets for 18 runs against Mumbai on debut, the best figures by a CSK spinner against MI in IPL history. His left-arm wrist spin operates at speeds that confuse batters, averaging 92 kmph and denying them time to adjust.
He destroyed Mumbai’s middle order when Suryakumar looked set to chase down CSK’s total. His role involves attacking rather than containing, hunting wickets even if occasional overs go for 12 or 15 runs.
9. Khaleel Ahmed
The left-arm quick took 15 wickets in fourteen games during 2025, providing new ball penetration and awkward angles that troubled right-handed batters. He swings the ball both ways early and bowls cutters when wickets slow down.
His economy rate of 9.57 reflected Chepauk’s flat nature more than his skill. He delivered three-wicket hauls twice during the tournament. His presence allows CSK to rotate pace options without dropping quality.
CSK will likely retain him because Indian seamers who average under 30 and take wickets consistently don’t emerge every auction at reasonable prices.
10. Anshul Kamboj
The young Indian seamer claimed eight wickets at an economy rate of eight, showing enough promise for CSK to view him as a future investment.
He bowled 21 overs across the season, learning how to survive at the IPL level when batters attack and margins disappear. His domestic record includes seven-wicket hauls in the Ranji Trophy and consistent wicket-taking in white-ball tournaments.
CSK sees him as an emerging talent who needs game time and mentorship to develop into a frontline option. His relatively low salary at Rs 3.40 crore makes retaining him a calculated bet on upside.
Who Is CSK Eyeing and How They Should Approach The Mini Auction
CSK needs a death overs specialist quickly who takes wickets in the final four overs when batters swing at everything. Pathirana’s 2025 struggles exposed how heavily they depend on him for execution when matches compress.
They also lack an explosive overseas opener who strikes from ball one rather than accumulating through the power play.
Their auction strategy should target low-cost Indian pacers who bring angles or speeds CSK currently lack, someone bowling genuinely quick or delivering slower balls that deceive batters more effectively.
They need backup wicketkeeping since Dhoni’s longevity remains uncertain, and relying on a 44-year-old’s fitness for an entire season feels optimistic.
CSK should consider whether they buy back Conway at reduced prices or commit that capital to entirely new profiles.
Their purse of Rs 27-30 crore allows aggressive bidding for premium players or conservative approaches, filling multiple roster spots with reliable contributors.
Related Reads:
Conclusion: CSK Retained Core Performers & High-Ceiling Youth For Mini Auction Flexibility
CSK will reportedly keep 10 players who balance present needs against future development, releasing six who either lost form or never fit the demands.
Their decisions prioritize spin-first strategies while acknowledging that pace improvements must arrive through auction. Releasing Conway makes sense when his strike rates collapse below acceptable thresholds.
Letting Curran go will reflect the harsh reality that premium contracts must produce premium performances, and single-wicket seasons don’t justify INR 2 crore commitments.
The balance between stability and urgent upgrades tilts toward calculated risks. Retaining Brevis after six matches will gamble that potential exceeds proven output. Keeping Pathirana despite 2025 struggles bets on his return to form.
Their mini-auction success depends on landing a death-overs quick and an explosive opener without overpaying, so roster depth suffers.
If they execute intelligently, CSK rebuilds into a playoff contender. If they miscalculate, 2026 could replicate 2025’s failures while the retained core ages another year.
FAQs
Curran managed just one wicket, and most of his 114 runs came in a single match during 2025, failing to justify his INR 2 crore contract value.
Dhoni’s potential absence removes CSK’s leadership insurance and tactical expertise during matches. The franchise would likely elevate a younger Indian wicketkeeper-batter who can develop under Gaikwad’s captaincy.
Ahmad bowls left-arm wrist spin at unusually high speeds, averaging 92 kmph compared to typical spinners who operate around 80-85 kmph.
Brevis demonstrated power-hitting ability during his brief 2025 stint, striking at 180 across six innings. His young age and SA20 success suggest potential, though Chepauk’s spin-friendly surfaces will test whether he can maintain those rates under pressure.
CSK need someone bowling genuine express pace or possessing exceptional yorker skills for death overs. They lack a quick bowler who consistently hits 145 kmph-plus or delivers yorkers with great accuracy.
