Joint-most successful team, Chennai Super Kings, had a difficult IPL 2025 campaign where they finished at the bottom of the table. The franchise has been forced to reassess its structure and initiate a progressive overhaul of the squad. The upcoming mini-auction will allow CSK to mix up its core.
The franchise has already made headlines by executing some of the biggest trades of the season. The most notable development came with the long-serving Ravindra Jadeja moving to the Rajasthan Royals after 12 seasons with CSK. The former captain, one of the league’s most experienced all-rounders, heads to Jaipur on a revised fee of INR 14 crore.
In return, CSK secured Sanju Samson, the Rajasthan Royals captain and one of the most consistent T20 batters in India. Arriving at his existing fee of INR 18 crore, Samson becomes one of the costliest trade additions in CSK’s history and is widely seen as a main figure in the team’s future leadership roadmap. Alongside Samson, the Super Kings have also traded out Sam Curran, who will join RR at INR 2.4 crore.
These changes are considered as CSK’s broader transition post the MS Dhoni era, with the management focusing on power hitters, Indian leadership options, and long-term options. CSK have historically placed immense value on continuity, and players like Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Noor Ahmad are widely expected to remain in the setup.
Meanwhile, the release list has expanded after the team’s poor 2025 campaign. Several players, including Devon Conway, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, and Jamie Overton, will return to the auction pool to allow CSK more financial flexibility. Overseas players Pathirana and Rachin Ravindra have also been discussed. Ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement has additionally opened up purse space, enabling the franchise to potentially pursue marquee names such as Cameron Green at the auction.
Chennai Super Kings 2026 Retained Player List
| Player | Role |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (C) | Batter |
| Ayush Mhatre | Batter |
| Dewald Brevis | Batter |
| MS Dhoni | Wicket-keeper batter |
| Urvil Patel | Wicket-keeper batter |
| Shivam Dube | All-rounder |
| Jamie Overton | All-rounder |
| Ramakrishna Ghosh | All-rounders |
| Noor Ahmad | Bowler |
| Khaleel Ahmed | Bowler |
| Anshul Kamboj | Bowler |
| Gurjanpreet Singh | Bowler |
| Nathan Ellis | Bowler |
| Shreyas Gopal | Bowler |
Chennai Super Kings 2026 Released Player List
| Player | Role |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| Sam Curran | All-rounder |
| Devon Conway | Batter |
| Rachin Ravindra | All-rounder |
| Rahul Tripathi | Batter |
| Vansh Bedi | Batter |
| C Andre Siddharth | Batter |
| Deepak Hooda | All-rounder |
| Vijay Shankar | All-rounder |
| Shaik Rasheed | All-rounder |
| Kamlesh Nagarkoti | Bowler |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Bowler |
Chennai Super Kings 2026 Traded Player List
| Player | Traded From | Traded To | Amount (INR) |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Chennai Super Kings | Rajasthan Royals | INR 14 crore |
| Sam Curran | Chennai Super Kings | Rajasthan Royals | INR 2.4 crore |
| Sanju Samson | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | INR 18 crore |
Chennai Super Kings 2026 Remaining Purse
43.4 crore
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