Three wins in 13 matches, second lowest in terms of hitting sixes, worst team in the powerplay, poor in middle overs, and the worst team in chasing 200+ totals — Chennai Super Kings have earned all the wrong laurels in IPL 2025. However, as MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming confirmed, CSK began their preparations for IPL 2026 with five matches left in the season. And with just a game to go, they should now have a fair idea of who to retain and who to release. Former India opener Aakash Chopra has given them a long list of players they should release, including Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
The Jadeja-Ashwin pair is costing CSK Rs 27.75 Crore. Chopra has also named the Kiwi pair of Devon Conway and Racin Ravindra as part of CSK’s release for a squad overhaul ahead of IPL 2026.
“I have got a long list. I would release Ashwin, Jadeja, Rachin, Conway, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, and Rahul Tripathi,” Aakash Chopra said on the ESPN Cricinfo show.
Aakash Chopra’s CSK release list
| Player | Price (Cr) | Performance in IPL 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Ravindra Jadeja | 18.00 | 8 wickets and 280 runs in 13 matches |
| R Ashwin | 9.75 | 7 wickets & 33 runs in 9 matches |
| Devon Conway | 6.25 | 104 runs in 5 matches |
| Rachin Ravindra | 4.00 | 191 runs in 8 matches |
| Rahul Tripathi | 3.40 | 55 runs in 5 matches |
| Deepak Hooda | 1.70 | 31 runs in 6 matches |
| Vijay Shankar | 1.20 | 118 runs in 6 matches |
If Chennai Super Kings listen to Aakash Chopra’s advice, the team would free up Rs 44.3 crore for the IPL 2026 Auction. Add MS Dhoni to the mix, and CSK would make the purse 48.3 crore.
Ashwin, on his return to his former franchise, has had a poor run, taking 7 wickets in 9 matches at an economy rate of 9.13 and scoring 33 runs. Jadeja
There are other non-performing players as well. The likes of Shaik Rasheed, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton and Nathan Elis could make CSK’s purse a bumper one.
Would CSK take drastic measures?
There is also a question of head coach Stephen Fleming. Should he stay back through the transition, or should CSK appoint a new head coach with a new vision? However, as CSK has been conducting operations since 2008, it is unlikely that they will panic.
“I don’t care how old the players are. The experience has served us really well over the past years that we have had. It hasn’t worked out quite well for us this year. I assume it could be a bit of form, it could be strategy, it could be a number of things that just don’t quite work out. The competition is very even,” Fleming said at a media conference.
The MS Dhoni problem
However, MS Dhoni is an elephant in the room that CSK and the legend himself must address. At 43 years of age, Dhoni neither has the ability, agility nor the stamina to perform. He could only play as a finisher, but his strike rate of 135.17 in 13 matches says otherwise. He can’t finish the games anymore. On Tuesday, Dhoni scored 16 off 17 balls, coming to bat when CSK still had six overs left.
Former chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth wants CSK to address the issue, adding that MS Dhoni can’t keep coming and messing it up. Dhoni hasn’t been able to play spinners well either, once his strength. The message is clear: he should retire. But would he?
“The problem with CSK today is that Dhoni is not able to replicate his own game. Spinners are tying him down. In all fairness, he is struggling. Dhoni is also ageing, you can’t expect too much from him. But at the same time, you can’t keep coming and messing it up. If you are not able to do it, say you’re not able to do it and walk away. In all fairness, his reflexes have gone down. His knees might have given up, his fitness, reflex level, everything will come down,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
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