After finally finishing at the bottom of the points table for the first time in IPL history in 2025, the Chennai Super Kings will be eyeing a revamp. The five-time champions could win only 4 out of 14 games, with auction picks and regular players failing to deliver. However, CSK was saved by some mid-season signings who were young guns like Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, and Urvil Patel. They blended well into this team that was having quite a few ‘Dads Army’ jokes thrown at it. Here are three players CSK should consider ditching before IPL 2026.
Players That Should Be Immediately Released By CSK Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction
1. MS Dhoni
Once a great player of the CSK franchise, leading them to five IPL trophies in the past, Dhoni turned out to be a disappointment in the 2025 edition of the tournament. Still, he remains the heartbeat of the team, but the former India skipper has virtually nothing left to offer except some brilliant leadership. MS Dhoni could manage only 196 runs in 14 matches in IPL 2025 and was often criticized for batting lower down the order even when the team was in dire need of his services.
Now 44, MS Dhoni will be the eldest IPL cricketer by the 2026 edition and an actual liability in the team because of his lack of full fitness. Dhoni himself and CSK chief coach have admitted that with his knees giving way, he is far from being his destructive finisher self of the past. While it is unlikely that CSK would ever let go of MS Dhoni, it would high time they wash their hands of him and free that space in the playing XI before the next season, as revamp is definitely the order of the day.
2. Rahul Tripathi
Bought for Rs 3.40 crore, Tripathi was an utter flop for CSK in IPL 2025. The team’s bet on the seasoned campaigner blew up spectacularly as he could only muster 55 runs in 5 outings at an abysmal average of 11. Rahul didn’t get a single chance after his 5 matches, and hence it is better that CSK release him before IPL 2026 to free up purse and may be use that money to scout for another youngster or rather a specialist top-order batter.
3. Deepak Hooda
Another reliable player to falter was Deepak Hooda. The all-rounder bought by CSK for Rs 1.70 crore could only put up 31 runs in five innings with a strike-rate of 75.61 and an average of 6.20. Even though he was batting down the order, it is criminal to star in such a manner in shortest-format modern-day cricket! Hooda has not ever been in an IPL campaign with his average above 18.20 over the last five years!
CSK squad for IPL 2026
Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Deepak Hooda, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni(w/c), Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana, Anshul Kamboj, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Jamie Overton, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, Shreyas Gopal, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Andre Siddarth C, Vansh Bedi, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Gurjapneet Singh
