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

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

Inconsistent batsmen and outdated batting approach for CSK

CSK’s batting unit was plagued by an outdated and conservative approach, especially in the Powerplay, which was their biggest weakness. CSK were known for having the worst Powerplay run rate in the entire tournament, often failing to capitalize on the on-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 have consistently breached the 220-run mark, CSK have struggled to display the high-octane aggression required, often getting stuck in the middle overs.

While Shivam Dubey was their top scorer (357 points), his strike rate was lower than the previous season, and overall firepower was lacking. Other key hitters like Rachin Ravindra And Devon Conway very underperformed. Failure to adapt to the modern T20 model, which demands fearless hitting from the get-go, meant their totals were often below par, putting immense pressure on the bowling unit.

Chennai Super Kings’ bowling woes and auction missteps

The bowling attack, traditionally a strength for CSK, lacked both pizzazz and consistency, a problem compounded by what critics called missteps at auction and failures by veteran players.

The vaunted spinning attack, which was usually dominant at their home ground, Chepauk, was rendered ineffective. Renowned signatures like Ravichandran Ashwin managed only a handful of wickets, while star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also had an unusually quiet season with both bat and ball. The Pacers struggled to complement the rotation attack, especially in death overs, where the team conceded a high run rate. The lack of a clear pace spearhead and the over-reliance on a few individuals like the impressive spinner Noor Ahmed (CSK’s leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets) meant the attack was often toothless. The bidding strategy, which saw the team draft several aging or inconsistent players instead of young, aggressive talents, left the team unbalanced and lacking game changers, resulting in a predictable and easily exploited bowling lineup.

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5 crucial players CSK could consider releasing ahead of IPL 2026 auction:

1. Deepak Hooda

Acquired for INR 1.70 Cr in 2025 Auction, Waiting for a Batting Allrounder Deepak Hooda was for him to provide essential stability and firepower in the middle order. However, his campaign was a season of deep struggle. In seven matches, his cumulative runs barely reached the minimum of 31, with a high score of just 22. This lack of output was reflected in his notably low average of 6.20 and a slow strike rate of 75.61. Hooda’s inability to inject pace or consistency into the innings was a significant factor contributing 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 has been a study in contrasts. As he provided a memorable flash of his aggressive batting, delivering the highest score of the season for the team, a blistering 88 off 47 balls against Kings of Punjab, his contribution with the ball was very limited. In the five matches for which detailed statistics are available, he took 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 a single match, highlighting his rare moments of individual impact.

3.Devon Conway

New Zealand’s so-called ‘prolific’ fly-half Conway has been a huge failure this campaign. After being re-signed as a ₹6.25 Crore burden, he was immediately ‘sidelined with injury’ and delivered absolutely nothing when the team desperately needed him. He managed to muster a paltry 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 base” made absolutely no sense, serving only as a rare and frustrating bout of individual performance that did nothing to stop the broader turmoil and dismal team performance.

4. Rahul Tripathi

The first-rate dough, Rahul Tripathiwas an INR 3.40 Crore acquisition whose first season for CSK failed to catch on fire. He visibly struggled to translate his usual aggressive intent into meaningful scores. This difficulty was painfully evident during a particularly slow innings against KKR, where he labored for 16 runs from 22 balls, an effort cited as one of the slowest knocks of the season. His overall initial contributions were minimal, producing just 46 runs with 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, functioning primarily as a middle-order hitter. His season was marked by a distinct lack of urgency, particularly when the team was involved in chases. His conservative approach came to a head in a crucial match against Delhi Capitalswhere he recorded 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 in the team’s defeat, thereby limiting his positive influence on CSK’s beleaguered campaign.

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IPL 2025 Performance Stats (CSK Players)