As Chennai Super Kings (CSK) gear up for the 2026 IPL season, the franchise has made bold and telling decisions in its retention and release strategy. Coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, the Yellow Army is clearly recalibrating, balancing experience with youth, and freeing up significant purse to retool its squad for a stronger comeback.
The Big Moves
Perhaps the most headline-grabbing move is Sanju Samson’s trade. CSK acquired the explosive Rajasthan Royals batter for ₹18 crore, in exchange sending two stalwarts — Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran — to RR.
Parting ways with Jadeja is especially symbolic; he has been with CSK for over a decade and played a pivotal role in many of their successes. The move signals a generational transition and a shift in team-building philosophy.
Full List: CSK’s Retained & Released Players for IPL 2026
Here is the detailed breakdown of who CSK kept, who they let go, and what the financial implications look like.
Retained Players
CSK retained 16 players going into the 2026 mini-auction, maintaining a core mix of experienced leaders and emerging talents
Here’s the full list:
| Player | Role / Notes |
|---|---|
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (c) | Captain, top-order batter. |
| MS Dhoni | Veteran leader, finisher, mentor |
| Ayush Mhatre | Young Indian batter. |
| Dewald Brevis | Promising young South African. |
| Urvil Patel | Wicketkeeper-batsman. |
| Sanju Samson (trade-in) | Big acquisition, adding firepower and possibly leadership. |
| Shivam Dube | Power-hitting all-rounder. |
| Jamie Overton | Overseas seam option. |
| Ramakrishna Ghosh | Emerging domestic talent. |
| Noor Ahmad | Young spinner, key to CSK’s spin depth. |
| Khaleel Ahmed | Left-arm pace. |
| Anshul Kamboj | Domestic pacer. |
| Gurjapneet Singh | Bowler / squad depth. |
| Nathan Ellis | Experienced overseas seamer |
| Shreyas Gopal | Spin / all-round utility. |
| Mukesh Choudhary | Young Indian pacer. |
With these retentions, CSK have preserved a stable core while freeing up room to rework around it.
Released Players
CSK also released or traded out a significant group, signaling their intent to refresh the squad:
- Ravindra Jadeja — traded to Rajasthan Royals.
- Sam Curran — traded to Rajasthan Royals.
- Matheesha Pathirana — released.
- Devon Conway — released.
- Rachin Ravindra — released.
- Rahul Tripathi — released.
- Deepak Hooda — released.
- Vijay Shankar — released.
- Shaikh Rasheed — released.
- Andre Siddarth — released.
- Kamlesh Nagarkoti — released.
Financial and Strategic Implications
- Auction Purse Left: After these retentions and trades, CSK reportedly have ₹43.4 crore to spend in the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
- Vacant Slots: They have 9 open slots in their squad for the upcoming mini-auction.
- Team-Building Focus: The trade for Samson and release of veterans like Jadeja hint at a transition phase. CSK seem to be planning for a future where leadership blends youth and experience, perhaps looking beyond Dhoni’s tenure eventually.
Conclusion
CSK’s retention and release strategy for IPL 2026 is bold and forward-looking. By trading in Sanju Samson, releasing long-term stalwarts, and retaining a mix of youth and experience, they are clearly signaling a transition phase. With ₹43.4 crore in their auction purse, they have the financial muscle to build a refreshed, competitive squad. The coming mini-auction will be crucial; how they deploy that budget could define their next chapter in the IPL.
