Chennai Super Kings: 5 players CSK can release ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 performance was a disappointing one, resulting in the franchise finishing at the bottom (10th place) of the points table for the first time in their history.

Inconsistent batting and outdated approach by CSK batters

The CSK’s batting unit was plagued by an outdated and conservative approach, especially in the Powerplay, which was their most significant weakness. CSK was noted for having the worst Powerplay run-rate in the entire tournament, often failing to capitalize on the field restrictions. The opening partnerships were unstable and failed to provide a solid platform, with frequent changes in the opening pair. In a season where other teams consistently breached the 220-run mark, CSK struggled to showcase the required high-octane aggression, often getting stuck in the middle overs.

While Shivam Dube was their leading run-scorer (357 runs), his strike rate was lower than in the previous season, and the overall firepower was lacking. Other key batters like Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway severely underperformed. The failure to adapt to the modern T20 template, which demands fearless hitting from the start, meant their totals were often below par, placing immense pressure on the bowling unit.

Chennai Super Kings’ bowling woes and auction missteps

The bowling attack, traditionally a strength for CSK, lacked both sting and consistency, a problem compounded by what critics termed as auction missteps and the failure of veteran players.

The much-vaunted spin attack, which typically dominated at their home ground, Chepauk, was rendered ineffective. Marquee spin signings like Ravichandran Ashwin managed just a handful of wickets, while the star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also had an unusually quiet season with both bat and ball. The pacers struggled to complement the spin attack, especially in the death overs, where the team conceded a high run rate. The absence of a clear pace spearhead and the over-reliance on a few individuals like the impressive spinner Noor Ahmad (CSK’s leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets) meant the attack was often toothless. The auction strategy, which saw the team pick up several ageing or inconsistent players instead of aggressive young talent, left the squad unbalanced and lacking in game-changers, resulting in a predictable and easily exploited bowling line-up.

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5 crucial players CSK might consider releasing before the IPL 2026 auction:

1. Deepak Hooda

Acquired for INR 1.70 Cr at the 2025 auction, the expectation for batting all-rounder Deepak Hooda was for him to provide essential stability and firepower in the middle order. However, his campaign was a season of profound struggle. In seven matches, his aggregate runs barely reached a minimal 31, with a high score of just 22. This lack of output was reflected in his notably low average of 6.20 and a sluggish strike rate of 75.61. Hooda’s inability to inject pace or consistency into the innings was a significant contributing factor to the team’s overall poor performance.

2. Sam Curran

The left-arm all-rounder Sam Curran made a return to the CSK setup for INR 2.4 Crore, and his season was a study in contrasts. While he provided a memorable flash of his aggressive batting, delivering the season’s highest score for the team, a blistering 88 runs off 47 balls against Punjab Kings, his contribution with the ball was severely limited. In the five matches for which detailed stats are available, he claimed just one wicket at an extraordinarily high average of 133 and a costly economy rate of 11.08. Despite his bowling struggles, his attacking strokeplay earned him a ‘Super Sixes’ award in one fixture, highlighting his rare moments of individual impact.

3. Devon Conway

The supposed ‘prolific’ New Zealand opener, Conway, was a massive failure this campaign. After being re-signed as a ₹6.25 Crore burden, he immediately went ‘injury-sidelined’ and delivered absolutely nothing when the team desperately needed him. He managed to scrape together a meager 156 runs in the only six matches he was available for, and while the consistency was there, his strike rate of 131.09 was criminally slow. His so-called ‘reliable foundation’ was utterly meaningless, serving only as a rare, frustrating blip of individual performance that did zero to stop the team’s wider turbulence and dismal performance.”

4. Rahul Tripathi

The top-order batter, Rahul Tripathi, was a INR 3.40 Crore acquisition whose debut season for CSK failed to ignite. He visibly struggled to translate his usual aggressive intent into meaningful scores. This difficulty was painfully evident in a notably slow innings against KKR, where he laboured to 16 runs off 22 balls, an effort cited as one of the slowest knocks of the season. His overall initial contributions were minimal, yielding only 46 runs at a strike rate below 100, marking a frustrating and difficult campaign for the new acquisition.

5. Vijay Shankar

The all-rounder Vijay Shankar returned to CSK for INR 1.2 Crore, primarily operating as a middle-order batter. His season was marked by a conspicuous lack of urgency, particularly when the team was involved in run chases. His conservative approach reached a nadir in a crucial match against Delhi Capitals, where he registered the slowest half-century of the season, taking 43 balls to reach the fifty-run mark. This cautious batting, even in partnership with MS Dhoni, was identified as a contributing factor to the team’s defeat, thereby limiting his positive influence on the beleaguered CSK campaign.

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IPL 2025 performance statistics (CSK Players)