CSK's Release List Sealed; 7 Players Set To Be Axed Before IPL 2026
Published - 22 May 2025, 05:42 PM | Updated - 22 May 2025, 05:45 PM
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra heavily criticised Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as he urged CSK management to release seven big stars ahead of IPL 2026.
IPL 2025 is CSK's worst IPL season ever, as they lost 10 out of 13 matches in the league stage. Chennai Super Kings are also on the verge of finishing in the last position for the first time ever in IPL history.
Read also: Anshul Kamboj gets the nod in India Test squad for England
Aakash Chopra’s seven players to be released before IPL 2026
Aakash Chopra took Ravindra Jadeja’s name first to be released from the Chennai squad because of his poor performance with the bat and ball in the IPL 2025.
Jadeja was retained by Chennai Super Kings for a whopping price of INR 18 crore, but he scored just 280 runs in 13 matches with a strike-rate of 137.25 in IPL 2025.
Jadeja failed miserably in the bowling department as he just picked up eight wickets in 13 matches. In which he played six matches on a spin-friendly Chepauk pitch.
The second name was Jadeja’s spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin made his return to his home team but couldn’t do anything special for his side.
Two kiwi players were also in the list of Chopra as he wanted Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway will also released ahead of IPL 2026 mini auction
The other three Indian middle-order players, who also couldn’t show any spark this season, are also in the list of Chopra, including Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda and Rahul Tripathi.
Moreover, Chopra also suggested as many as seven names that he opines Chennai Super Kings to let go ahead of the next edition. “I’ve got a long list actually. I would release [R] Ashwin, [Ravindra] Jadeja, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi,” Aakash Chopra stated on ESPNcricinfo.
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Aakash Chopra suggests that CSK trade Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja is the most expensive player in the CSK squad, and he has failed misreably this season with both bat and ball. Jadeja was also promoted up the order, but couldn’t change his fortunes.
"I would say probably trade him (Jadeja). You have Dewald Brevis as your No.4. Bat him at No.4. This is a stop-gap arrangement with Devon Conway and Ayush Mhatre, and Urvil Patel at 3. There is a mini auction in between, if you are releasing Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, it's common sense that you will find somebody who can be an absolute banker and destructor at the top." Aakash Chopra added.
MS Dhoni promoted Jadeja and Ashwin top of the order above Dewald Brevis, which shows how management wants this season to finish and will look to next year’s edition.
CSK will look to fresh talent
CSK were known for veterans but for the first time all the veterans failed to performed. CSK will have to emphasise the need for fresh talent in the squad ahead of next season.
Their mid-season signings were up to the mark as they signed three young, aggressive batters to their squad.
Noor Ahmed and Matheesha Pathirana showed the spark, but apart from them, no experienced players showed any spark this season.
Tagged:
IPL Chennai Super Kings Aakash Chopra Ravindra Jadeja Rachin Ravindra Devon Conway Ravichandran Ashwin Rahul Tripathi Deepak Hooda Vijay Shankar MS Dhoni
