IPL 2026 Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Best Retained Players List
MS Dhoni in contention in our best retained players list for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
It’s finally official. The 5-times champions, Chennai Super Kings have been eliminated from the IPL 2025 Playoffs race after registering just 2 victories in their first 10 matches. It has been an unforgettable season for the Men-in Yellow, but even though they are out of the race, the champion team that they are, they have already started preparing for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League, IPL 2026.
It has been a season of first for the Chennai Super Kings team. For the first time in 18 years, CSK failed to enter two consecutive IPL Playoffs. Also, for the first time in history, CSK made almost 18-20 changes in their playing 11; their worst in history. With so many negative things taking over the CSK team, it was no surprise that they have had a poor performance as a team as well. But what next now for the CSK team?
Well, one of the main reasons for CSK’s early exit from the competition is the inability of their players to adapt to the latest demands of the T20 format. While the form of CSK players has been poor, the fact is anchoring is now only limited to 1 or a maximum of 2 players. CSK, unsurprisingly had almost all their players as anchors with no powerful hitters in the side. Having said that, CSK have already started adding more intent players in their side with the additions of the likes of Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis.
CSK’s Focus on Adding Young Intent Players
With CSK already starting to add young and intent players, the team, which is currently going through a big transition must already be thinking of their retentions for IPL 2026. Sure, we have 5-6 months before the team finalizes their retentions, but CSK, must have already started to think about their probable retentions for the upcoming IPL. So, let’s review the complete squad of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and find out their best retained players list for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Starting with the Batters and WKs, CSK have no option, but to release the likes of Rahul Tripathi and Devon Conway. CSK tried both players in the current IPL, but after a few matches gave up on them. Their style of play isn’t something CSK is now comfortable with, and hence, they will be released most probably. With these two players released, expect CSK to retain Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, and young guns, Andre Siddharth, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Shaik Rasheed, and Vansh Bedi.
Among All-rounders, CSK will mostly part ways with Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Jamie Overton, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ramkrishna Ghosh. CSK backed their experienced all-rounders to come good, but it feels these players may no longer fit the DNA of CSK going further. With the focus on the future, CSK may want to back young all-rounders like Sam Curran and Rachin Ravindra alongside experienced Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube.
Consistent Bowling Department
Finally, talking about the bowlers, CSK will mostly look to retain their core group comprising Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, and Mukesh Choudhary. If there is an area where CSK have seen good performance this season, it is the bowling department. Be it Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, or Anshul Kamboj, these three have bowled beautifully this season. Pathirana may have had an ordinary season, but he will bounce back.
With five bowlers set retention, CSK may mostly part ways with the likes of Nathan Ellis, Gurjapneet Singh, Shreyas Gopal, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Even after having such a bad season, these players didn’t get the opportunity to play. This shows that CSK doesn’t have much confidence in these players, and will be better off releasing them with a focus on adding more young talent on the side.
IPL 2026 Best Released Players List for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Rahul Tripathi
- Devon Conway (o)
- Deepak Hooda
- Ramakrishna Ghosh
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Vijay Shankar
- Gurjapneet Singh
- Shreyas Gopal
- Kamlesh Nagarkoti
- Nathan Ellis (o)
- Jamie Overton (o)
So, overall, expect CSK to release 11 players from their current squad with big names like Rahul Tripathi, Devon Conway, Jamie Overton, and Nathan Ellis getting released. With 16 players set for retention for IPL 2025, CSK will roughly have 26.45 Cr for the upcoming Auction if the purse is still 120 Cr. This will be a good amount to buy 1-2 solid Overseas players, and a couple of good Indian players, if available.
Looking at the predicted retentions, CSK will still have good playing 11 even if they don’t buy new players. Among the current retentions, CSK will have Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre as openers, Sam Curran at 3, Dewald Brevis at 4, Shivam Dube at 5, Ravindra Jadeja at 6, and MS Dhoni at 7. Among bowlers, CSK will use the likes of Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matheesha Pathirana, and Khaleel Ahmed. All CSK would then need is a few finishers, who can smash hard.
IPL 2026 Best Retained Players List for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Batters: Andre Siddharth, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c) & Shaik Rasheed
Wicket-keepers: MS Dhoni& Vansh Bedi
All-rounders: Rachin Ravindra (o), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran (o) & Shivam Dube
Bowlers: Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana (o), Mukesh Choudhary & Noor Ahmad (o)
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