IPL 2026 Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Best Retained Squad and Released Players List
18 names in contention in our best squad and retained players list for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
When we talk about Chennai Super Kings, we are talking of a franchise that is known for consistency. Be it consistency in terms of performance, or consistency in terms of team selection, they have been the pioneers when it comes to trusting their players, which leads to a quality performance from the team. But after 18 years of dominance, there comes a time when the immortal looks mortal, and CSK experience their lowest point yet.
The IPL 2025 has been the lowest point for Chennai Super Kings where they not only finished 10th in the points table, but also failed to qualify for the successive finals for the first time. The IPL 2023 had seen CSK as the champions, but the last two years have been extremely bad the most successful franchise in the history of the IPL. But CSK seem to have understood their problem areas, and have already started addressing it via replacements.
CSK’s major issue was their inability to bring fresh minds to the team, and relying on old-age out-of-form players to come good. The strategy backfired majorly with most players struggling to perform. Even as CSK were losing matches, they understood the problem area, and started addressing that by adding players like Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, etc. With a start already been made, it will be interesting to see how CSK go about their retention strategy for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
Which Players will CSK Retain for IPL 2026?
If we talk about the sure-shot retentions that will form the core of Chennai Super Kings, we are looking at 13 names. From a batting perspective, the team will retain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Mhatre, and Dewald Brevis. Among Wicket-keepers, CSK will look to retain MS Dhoni and Urvil Patel. From All-rounders, we are looking at Rachin Ravindra, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and Sam Curran. Whereas among bowlers, we are looking at Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana, Anshul Kamboj, and Khaleel Ahmed.
With 13 sure-shot retentions on the cards, as they will also form a core of Chennai Super Kings, the team will mostly look to retain Nathan Ellis, Andre Siddharth, Shaik Rasheed, Ramkrishna Ghosh, and Vansh Bedi. These players have shown potential with the bat and ball, and CSK will continue investing in them for a year more at the least. Among these youngsters, Andre Siddharth, Ramkrishna Ghosh, and Vansh Bedi are yet to get a game for CSK.
IPL 2026 Best Retained Squad Players List for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Batters
- Andre Siddharth
- Ayush Mhatre
- Dewald Brevis (o)
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
- Shaik Rasheed
Wicket-keepers
- MS Dhoni
- Urvil Patel
- Vansh Bedi
All-rounders
- Rachin Ravindra (o)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Sam Curran (o)
- Shivam Dube
Bowlers
- Anshul Kamboj
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Matheesha Pathirana (o)
- Nathan Ellis (o)
- Noor Ahmad (o)
- Ramkrishna Ghosh
Among the players that CSK will mostly let go in search of fresh blood are Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Devon Conway, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jamie Overton, Shreyas Gopal, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Most of these players looked out of form in the current IPL, and given they were already at the flagship end of their careers, it won’t be wise for CSK to retain them once again. CSK will look to add more fresh blood in the upcoming Auction in place of these players.
IPL 2026 Best Released Players List for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Rahul Tripathi
- Devon Conway (o)
- Deepak Hooda
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Vijay Shankar
- Gurjapneet Singh
- Mukesh Choudhary
- Shreyas Gopal
- Kamlesh Nagarkoti
- Jamie Overton (o)
So, that’s about the best retained squad players list for Chennai Sone name for all 10 teams for IPL 2026.
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