Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have made a major change for IPL 2026. Young and experienced players have been retained, while players who performed poorly in a mini auction to be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16 have been dropped from the team. After a disappointing performance in IPL 2025—topping the bottom with four wins from 14 matches, missing the playoffs for the first time in a row—CSK have landed with a sum of ₹43.4 crore and nine slots, further boosted by R Ashwin’s retirement in August (saving ₹9.75 crore).

The blockbuster trade reshaped the core structure of the team: Sanju Samson (₹18 crore) joined the team from Rajasthan Royals to add leadership depth, while Ravindra Jadeja (revised price ₹14 crore) and Sam Curran (₹2.4 crore) moved to RR – ending Jadeja’s 12-year stint with Chennai Super Kings (2,198 runs, 143 wickets, three titles). MS Dhoni (₹4 crore) will continue to be the icon, while Ruturaj Gaikwad has been retained as captain.

Chennai Super Kings retained players for IPL 2026

player , Role Price (₹ Crore)
– Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain) – Batsman – 18
– MS Dhoni (Wicket Keeper) – Wicketkeeper-Batsman – 4
– Sanju Samson (Traded) – Wicketkeeper-batsman – 18
– Shivam Dubey – Allrounder – 12
– Dewald Brewis – Batsman – 4
– Ayush Mhatre – Batsman – 1.5
– Urvil Patel – Wicketkeeper – 0.3
– Jamie Overton – Allrounder – 3
– Noor Ahmed – Spinner – 2
– Khalil Ahmed – Fast Bowler – 4
– Anshul Kamboj – Fast bowler – 3.4
– Gurjapneet Singh – Fast bowler – 2.2
– Ramakrishna Ghosh – Batsman – 0.3

CSK have 13 players (four foreigners), with youngsters like 21-year-old Dewald Brevis and 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre being given priority as they have explosive potential.

Released players: big cut to return

player | Role Previous price (₹ Crore)

– Ravindra Jadeja (Traded) – All-rounder – 18
– Sam Curran (Traded) – All-rounder – 2.4
– Mathisha Pathirana – Fast Bowler – 13
– Devon Conway – Opener – 6.25
– Rachin Ravindra – All-rounder – 4
– Deepak Hooda – All-rounder – 4.6
– Rahul Tripathi – Batsman – 5.5
– Vijay Shankar – All-rounder – 1.2
– Sheikh Rashid – Batter – 1.3
– Mukesh Chaudhary – Fast bowler – 0.3
– Nathan Ellis – Fast Bowler – 2
– Andre Siddarth – Batsman – 2.4
– Vansh Bedi – Batter – 0.55

The release of Pathirana (13 wickets in 12 matches, struggling with injury) and Conway (unstable opening batsman) signaled a rebuilding of the fast bowling, despite severe criticism from fans. With the departure of Ashwin (seven wickets in nine matches), spin options are on target.

Auction priorities: Fast bowling, depth of spin
CSK are eyeing fast bowlers like Kagiso Rabada or T Natarajan, as well as a finisher (say, Marcus Stoinis) and a home spinner to replace Ashwin. With Samson strengthening the middle order, the focus is on ending the Dhoni era—winning a sixth title in 2025 amid a batting collapse (say, 103/9 against KKR).

CEO Kasi Viswanathan described Jadeja’s departure as “the most difficult”, but Samson’s arrival promises “new energy”. CSK are hoping to make a comeback, and this change could rekindle the dynasty dreams of the Yellow Brigade.