By Akshat Jain | Updated: August 9, 2025 2:52 PM IST
In this collection of pictures we shall take a look at 5 players CSK likely to release in IPL 2026. One of them is Dhoni's favourite. Let's dive in.
The last season was very bad for the five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings. The team finished at the bottom of the points table. After the season ended, the CSK management admitted that they made some mistakes in the mega auction and could not select the players correctly.
Now the team has a chance to rectify their mistake for the next season. In such a situation, let us know about those five potential players whom the CSK team would not want to keep in their team for IPL 2026.
The first name in this list is that of veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. However, some reports are claiming that Ashwin himself wants to part ways with CSK. A big reason behind this is that Ashwin had a poor performance for the team last season. In IPL 2025, Ashwin was able to take only 7 wickets in 9 matches for CSK. In such a situation, even if Ashwin does not part ways with himself, CSK can release him. The reason behind this is that Ashwin has looked ineffective on spin-friendly pitches. Apart from this, the team would like to look for some young spin options. Even though R Ashwin is MS Dhoni's favourite bowler, he may be dropped. If we see the history of CSK Ashwin and Dhoni combo has dismissed many star batters in the IPL.
After Ashwin, Rahul Tripathi can be one such player whom the CSK team can release. CSK gave Rahul many chances in IPL 2025, but he failed. In such a situation, CSK can go in search of a reliable batter for the next season who can provide stability in the middle order and can also score runs fast.
Apart from this, CSK would also not want to keep New Zealand's Devon Conway with them. In IPL 2025, CSK also gave Devon Conway several consecutive chances, but he too could not show his impact. Devon Conway's game is also no longer of T20 nature. In such a situation, CSK would like to make a slot for an aggressive foreign batter. This is the reason why the team would like to release Devon Conway.
Fast bowler Mukesh Choudhary's name can also be included among the players to be released. Mukesh Choudhary was very effective for this team in the beginning, but his performance in IPL 2025 was not that impressive. Apart from this, he also struggled with fitness problems. In such a situation, CSK would like to look for a reliable pace bowler who can play for them throughout the season.
CSK team may also decide to release all-rounder Vijay Shankar before IPL 2026. Vijay Shankar has not been able to perform up to his potential for CSK. CSK would like to bring in an all-rounder who can finish the match for them and score runs at a fast pace in batting as well as bowling like Hardik Pandya does.