IPL 2025: Ajay Jadeja reveals Chennai Super Kings' 4 retentions ahead of mega auction

Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja believes that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) should retain legendary skipper MS Dhoni for the IPL 2025 season. Ajay Jadeja stated that the five-time IPL champions should retain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja along with overseas fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana.

On Saturday, the IPL Governing Council announced that Indian players who haven't played for the country in the last five years will be considered uncapped. This new rule allows CSK to retain MS Dhoni as an uncapped player. Notably, Dhoni last played for India during the 2019 ODI World Cup.

One Is MS Dhoni For Sure - Ajay Jadeja

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Ajay Jadeja said that MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Ravindra Jadeja will be retained by the Chennai Super Kings. Ajay said that Gaikwad had a good outing in the IPL 2024. He highlighted that Ravindra Jadeja should be part of the team for the IPL 2025.

"One is MS Dhoni for sure. There is no doubt about that because firstly he has become an uncapped player now and he has shown for so many years that he doesn't desire to be No. 1 or No. 2 to make the team. So there is no doubt at that value," Ajay Jadeja said.

"Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had a good year, so you will want to keep him as well. You cannot leave Ravindra, I am not talking about Rachin, I am talking about Jadeja. I feel these three are perfect for them," the former India captain added.

MS Dhoni stepped down from captaincy before the start of the IPL 2024 season. He batted lower down the order throughout the season. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 161 runs in 11 innings at an average of 53.67 and a strike rate of 220.54.

Gaikwad was CSK's top run-scorer in IPL 2024. The CSK skipper scored 583 runs in 14 games with an impressive average of 53.00 and a strike rate of 141.16. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja amassed 267 runs at an average of 44.50 in 11 innings and took eight wickets with an economy rate of 7.85.

Would Not Want To Leave Matheesha Pathirana - Ajay Jadeja

The cricketer-turned-commentator said that Matheesha Pathirana won't be released by CSK ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. Jadeja said that Dhoni, Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, and Pathirana would be the ideal four picks for CSK, along with the use of Right to Match (RTM) cards.

"So if a team wants to change their style, the fewer you retain, it's better. So these three according to me will be retained for sure. You would not want to leave Pathirana. I am seeing him as one among the overseas players. You need to keep players not because of the money, but their style. So I feel these four will be their main players and they will keep two RTMs," Jadeja stated.

Pathirana delivered an impressive performance in IPL 2024, taking 13 wickets in just six innings at an economy rate of 7.68. He was third in the wicket-taking charts for CSK, behind Tushar Deshpande (17) and Mustafizur Rahman (14). The CSK team did not qualify for the playoffs in the last season.

Also read: IPL 2025: Teams granted extended injury replacement window by BCCI