Who Will MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings Retain and Release Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction?

CSK will retain Ruturaj Gaikwad as their long-term batting and leadership investment. With his proven consistency, Gaikwad anchors the top order, forming the backbone of CSK’s IPL 2026 strategy.

Despite trade rumors, Jadeja is likely to stay as a three-dimensional player. His versatility balances the team across batting, bowling, and fielding, making him a critical retention for CSK.

MS Dhoni’s retention at INR 4 crore is more than stats-based. Beyond finishing and wicketkeeping, his tactical acumen boosts fielding setups and guides youngsters, ensuring leadership continuity in IPL 2026.

Dube’s ability to dominate spin and accelerate the scoring rate makes him a key middle-order enforcer. CSK plans to retain him to modernize their batting template in T20 conditions.

CSK will likely retain Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Rachin Ravindra, Dewald Brevis, and Ayush Mhatre. These players offer high-impact performances, covering death bowling, wrist spin, and explosive batting.

Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel revived CSK’s top-order in the second half of IPL 2025. Their aggressive style and high strike rates justify their retention for the next season.

CSK may release Sam Curran, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, and Shreyas Gopal. This opens slots to recruit premium Indian top-order batters and high-quality overseas pacers in IPL 2026.

Khaleel Ahmed and Noor Ahmad led CSK’s bowling in IPL 2025. Retaining them ensures powerplay wickets and middle-over breakthroughs, while Pathirana and Anshul Kamboj provide additional reinforcements.

Brevis scored 225 runs in six IPL 2025 matches at a strike rate of 180. His aggressive approach transformed the middle-order dynamics, making him a crucial asset for CSK’s title ambitions.

By retaining 16 players, CSK spends approximately INR 89 crore, leaving around INR 31–36 crore for the auction. This allows targeting key Indian and overseas players to optimize squad balance.