Not Ravindra Jadeja!! List of players set to be released by CSK ahead of IPL Mega Auction 2025

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had a forgetful season in IPL 2024, where they failed to reach the playoffs. Now, they have to modify their squad due to the IPL 2025 auction. The mega auction will force franchisees to lose most of their players with the retentions and releases.

CSK has been one of the most consistent teams in the Indian Premier League over the years, reaching the playoffs maximum times. However, they could not do it in IPL 2024 and it came as a big shock to many fans.

CSK was led by Ruturaj Gaikwad in the tournament with MS Dhoni helping him with the captaincy. They failed to win a do-or-die game against RCB for playoffs. Now, the management will have to drop many players ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, and below are three such players.

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3 players who will be released by CSK ahead of IPL 2025 auction

3. Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane is the first member that CSK can drop from their squad ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. The right-handed batsman was grabbed by the franchisee in the 2022 mega auction and has done a decent job in the last two seasons.

Rahane slammed 326 runs in 14 games in the 2023 season and 242 runs in 13 games in IPL 2024. While he held a stunning strike rate of 172+ in the 2023 season, he struggled in the last season at a 123+ strike rate.

CSK also failed to reach the playoffs and they need powerful batters. Hence, Rahane is highly likely to be dropped from the squad.

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2. Maheesh Theekshana

Maheesh Theekshana is another player on this list. It is not wrong to say that Theekshana is the most crucial spinner in the CSK squad currently. He is also a regular spinner in Sri Lanka national team.

However, the right-arm spinner struggled to grab enough wickets in IPL 2024. He played 5 games and could only snatch 2 wickets.

Due to this, the team also benched him in most of the matches. In the IPL 2025 auction, the Men-in-Yellow might look for more powerful spinners and hence drop Theekshana from the squad.

1. Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner has been part of Chennai Super Kings for a long time. However, he did not get enough opportunities in the playing 11 due to limited overseas members. Santner is a highly successful spinner for New Zealand.

For Chennai Super Kings, he has made limited appearances for the last few seasons. The right-arm spinner played 3 games each during the last two seasons.

In the 2022 season, he was picked in 6 games. CSK has a strong batting unit but they need a more lethal bowling attack. Therefore, they might snub Santner from the squad before IPL 2025.