Chennai Super Kings had a very bad season in IPL 2025. The team finished last in the points table for the first time ever in their history. This was a big shock for the five-time champions and their fans. After such a poor performance, the team now needs to make many changes before IPL 2026.
The IPL 2026 mini auction will take place in December 2025, most likely between December 13 and 15. All teams must tell the BCCI which players they want to keep and which players they will release by November 15, 2025. CSK is expected to release several players to free up money in their purse and build a stronger team for the next season.
A recent report said that CSK might release five players from their squad. However, the team made a post on social media saying nothing is official until they announce it. Still, based on the poor performances in IPL 2025, we can look at which players CSK might decide to release.
1. Rahul Tripathi
Rahul Tripathi was one of the biggest failures for CSK in IPL 2025. The team bought him for Rs 3.40 crore at the auction. They wanted him to give quick starts at the top of the order. But he could not do this job at all.
Tripathi played only five matches in the whole season. In these five games, he scored just 55 runs. His batting average was a very poor 11. Even worse, his strike rate was below 100 at just 96.49. In modern T20 cricket, a strike rate below 100 is not good enough, especially for an opening batter.
After playing five matches without success, the team dropped him from the playing eleven. Other young batters like Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel got chances to open instead of Tripathi. These youngsters did better than Tripathi in the limited chances they got.
For CSK, releasing Rahul Tripathi makes a lot of sense. They will save Rs 3.40 crore if they let him go. This money can be used to buy a better top-order batter or a young player with more potential. Tripathi’s poor form means CSK will most likely release him before the IPL 2026 auction.
2. Deepak Hooda
Deepak Hooda is an all-rounder from Baroda who has played IPL for many years. CSK bought him for Rs 1.70 crore hoping he would give them balance with both bat and ball. But Hooda could not show his skills in the yellow jersey.
Hooda played five matches in IPL 2025. His batting numbers were very disappointing. He scored only 31 runs in five innings. His batting average was just 6.20. His strike rate was also very low at 75.61. For an experienced player in T20 cricket, these numbers are not acceptable.
The team used Hooda to bat in the lower middle order. Even though he batted down the order where the pressure is less, he could not score runs. In today’s T20 cricket, even lower-order batters need to hit the ball hard and score quickly. Hooda failed to do this.
CSK also did not use Hooda as a bowler much during the season. If a team does not use an all-rounder to bowl, then his value goes down a lot. Hooda was in the team only as a batter, and he failed at that job too.
By releasing Deepak Hooda, CSK will save Rs 1.70 crore. This money might seem small, but every crore counts when building a team for the auction. CSK is very likely to let Hooda go before IPL 2026.
3. Vijay Shankar
Vijay Shankar is a Tamil Nadu all-rounder who first played for CSK way back in 2014. The team bought him again in the IPL 2025 auction for Rs 1.70 crore. As a local Chennai player, many fans hoped he would do well. But his performance was not good enough.
Shankar played six matches in IPL 2025. He scored 118 runs in these games at an average of 39.33. While this average looks okay, it does not tell the full story. The team wanted Shankar to play as a finisher who scores quick runs at the end. He could not do this job well.
Shankar got only one fifty in the whole season, scoring 69 not out. This was his highest score. In the other matches, he did not contribute much. A finisher needs to score runs in every match, not just once in a while.
The biggest problem was that CSK never used Shankar as a bowler. They had him in the team as an all-rounder, but he never bowled. This made his place in the playing eleven less useful. If a team has an all-rounder who does not bowl, they might as well pick a specialist batter instead.
Some reports say Shankar performed well in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) after IPL 2025. He scored 251 runs with a good strike rate and also took 10 wickets. This shows he still has skill. But his IPL 2025 performance was not good enough.
CSK might think carefully before releasing Vijay Shankar because he is a local Chennai player. But if they want to rebuild the team properly, they may have to let him go. Releasing Shankar would save Rs 1.70 crore for the auction.
4. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin does not need to be released by CSK because he already retired from IPL cricket in August 2025. Ashwin announced his retirement on social media, saying he wants to explore playing in other leagues around the world.
CSK bought Ashwin for a huge price of Rs 9.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. It was a homecoming for Ashwin, who started his IPL career with CSK in 2009. He was part of CSK’s title-winning teams in 2010 and 2011.
But his return to CSK in 2025 did not go well. Ashwin played nine matches in the season. He took only seven wickets. His bowling average was a very high 40.43. His economy rate was also poor at 9.12 runs per over.
In August 2025, Ashwin made it official by retiring from IPL. His retirement added Rs 9.75 crore to CSK’s purse for the IPL 2026 auction. This extra money will help CSK buy better players at the auction.
Ashwin had a great IPL career overall. He played 221 matches and took 187 wickets. He is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in IPL history. He also scored 833 runs in his IPL career. Ashwin played for five different teams including CSK, Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals.
5. Jamie Overton
Jamie Overton is an English fast bowling all-rounder. CSK bought him at his base price of Rs 1.50 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. The team hoped he would give them pace bowling and also hit some quick runs with the bat.
Overton is very tall at over 6 feet 5 inches. His height helps him bowl fast and get extra bounce from the pitch. He also has the power to hit big sixes. On paper, he looked like a good buy for CSK.
But Overton played only three matches in IPL 2025. He scored just 15 runs with the bat. His highest score was only 11 runs. More importantly, he could not take even one wicket in the three matches he played.
In his IPL debut against Rajasthan Royals, Overton bowled two overs and gave away 30 runs without taking a wicket. Against Lucknow Super Giants, he bowled and conceded 24 runs again without a wicket. Against Mumbai Indians, he gave away 29 runs without a wicket. These are expensive bowling figures.
By releasing Jamie Overton, CSK will save Rs 1.50 crore. Even though this is not a huge amount, it still helps to have more money at the auction. CSK is very likely to let Overton go before IPL 2026.
Other Players CSK Might Release
Apart from these five players, CSK might also release some other players from their squad. Two big names that reports mention are Devon Conway and Sam Curran.
Devon Conway is a New Zealand opener who was very important for CSK’s title win in 2023. He scored 672 runs that season and was the third-highest run scorer. But he missed IPL 2024 due to injury and then had a poor IPL 2025.
Conway played only six matches in IPL 2025. He scored just 156 runs at a strike rate of 131.09. He got only two fifties. The main reason Conway played less was because another New Zealand player Rachin Ravindra took his opening spot. Rachin was scoring faster and also gave CSK a bowling option with his left-arm spin.
CSK bought Devon Conway for Rs 6.25 crore at the auction. If they release him, they will save a good amount of money. Some reports even say Conway might be traded to Gujarat Titans in exchange for other players. Whether traded or released, Conway might not play for CSK in 2026.
Sam Curran is an English all-rounder who played for CSK before in 2020 and 2021. He came back to the team in IPL 2025 for Rs 2.60 crore. Curran can bowl with the new ball and also at the death. He can also bat and score quick runs.
But Curran had a poor IPL 2025 season. He played only five matches. He scored 114 runs, but 88 of those runs came in just one match. In the other matches, he did not contribute much. As a bowler, he took only one wicket in the whole season. His economy rate was a very high 11.08.
After IPL 2025, Curran showed better form in The Hundred and in matches for England. He scored 667 runs in T20 cricket between June and October 2025 with a good strike rate. He also took 34 wickets. This good form might make CSK think about keeping him.
But reports still say CSK might release Sam Curran. If they do release him, they will save Rs 2.60 crore. CSK might feel they can find better overseas all-rounders at the auction.
How Much Money Will CSK Have for IPL 2026 Auction
Chennai Super Kings started with only Rs 5 lakh remaining in their purse after the IPL 2025 auction. They had spent almost all their money buying 25 players. This left them with very little room to make changes.
But things have changed now. Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement gave them Rs 9.75 crore extra. If they release the five players mentioned in reports – Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Devon Conway, and Sam Curran – they will get around Rs 15.25 crore more.
Adding Ashwin’s Rs 9.75 crore and the release money together, CSK could have around Rs 25 to 30 crore extra. Combined with their original balance, the team might go into the auction with around Rs 35 to 40 crore.
This is a good amount of money for a mini auction. CSK can use this money to buy some quality players who can make a difference. The team might look for a strong Indian middle-order batter, a death bowler, and maybe one good overseas all-rounder.
Some names that CSK might target at the auction include Sanju Samson if Rajasthan Royals release him, Cameron Green from Australia, and Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. All these players are expected to be in high demand at the auction.
The retention deadline is November 15, 2025, and the auction will be in mid-December 2025. CSK fans will have to wait until then to see what the team does. But one thing is clear – big changes are coming to Chennai Super Kings. The five-time champions will do everything they can to come back stronger in IPL 2026 and avoid another last-place finish.
The post CSK Released Players List for IPL 2026 appeared first on Sportzcraazy.
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