Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have got their work cut out for them. Despite failing to make the playoffs in the IPL 2024 season, in an ideal world, they wouldn’t have made many changes to their squad. But, like all the other franchises, they have a maximum of six slots to fill. Half of these retention spots are confirmed. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni will be their top three picks, not in terms of retention number or price but definitely in importance.
CSK retention list for IPL 2025
Retention No. 1 (Rs 18 crore) – Ruturaj Gaikwad
Retention No. 2 (Rs 14 crore) – Matheesha Pathirana
Retention No. 3 (Rs 11 crore) – Rachin Ravindra
Retention No. 4 (Rs 18 crore) – Ravindra Jadeja
Retention No. 5 (Rs 4 crore) (uncapped) – MS Dhoni
Retention No. 6 (Rs 4 crore) (uncapped) – Rajvardhan Hangargekar
Purse left – Rs 51 crores
Rs 18 crore: Gaikwad & Jadeja
Ruturaj Gaikwad will be CSK’s number one retention. He just isn’t their best batter now, but also their captain. The batter from Maharashtra might don the yellow jersey for the next decade, and giving him Rs 18 crore is a no-brainer. Ravindra Jadeja will be the fourth pick and will pocket the highest amount available. There isn’t an all-rounder like him. His returns have diminished slightly over the last couple of years, but don’t forget his last over miracle gave CSK their fifth title.
Rachin Ravindra over Shivam Dube
Rachin Ravindra has shown what he’s capable of while opening the batting. His batting against spin is as good as his pace-hitting ability, which bodes well at spin-friendly Chepauk Stadium. Although the sample size isn’t that large given his age (24) and the fact that he hasn’t yet reached his peak means he’s worth investing in.
Shivam Dube can be picked as the third retention as well. Since he joined the franchise in 2022, he’s been great. As far as stats go, Dube is way ahead. However, he’s 7 years older than Rachin, and you might question whether this three-year period was his peak and whether it’ll be over soon. Also, despite being labeled a batting all-rounder, Dube’s bowled just 18 balls in the last three seasons. The Kiwi opener can roll his arm over, and on spinning Chepauk track, he could actually do well from time to time.
Rs 14 crore for Matheesha Pathirana
Matheesha Pathirana has to be the second-best T20 fast bowler after Jasprit Bumrah. When he was available for CSK in IPL 2024, he was virtually unplayable. He could be what Lasith Malinga was to the Mumbai Indians, or perhaps he might even trump his idol in terms of IPL success. Despite playing just 6 matches, he was CSK’s third-highest wicket-taker last season and a nightmare to face in the death overs. Dishing out Rs 14 crore for Pathirana might seem too much, but how would you rather have bowling for you? Furthermore, there isn’t a guarantee that he won’t go for at least the same amount in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Uncapped: Dhoni & Hangargekar
This uncapped player rule works the best for CSK. Getting to retain MS Dhoni for just Rs 4 crore is a steal, to say the least. Now, there is a question about Dhoni’s availability. Whether the former skipper wishes to play or feels it’s time to move on. However, until he says so, CSK aren’t moving on, and neither are we.
Sameer Rizvi, Nishant Sandhu, Rajavardhan Hangargekar and Simarjeet Singh—these four players would be the best choice for the other uncapped player options. Of these, Nishant Sandhu was the only one who didn’t play in the last season, and that virtually rules him out. Rizvi, who fetched Rs 8.4 crore in the auction, got 5 chances where he scored 51 runs at 12.75 and struck at 118. Safe to say, he’s out as well. Simarjeet bowls 140 clicks consistently and did moderately when tried, and Hangargekar went for runs in one game and picked three wickets in the other. Given that Hangarekar is just 21 and a bowling all-rounder, investing in him for three years seems like the right choice.
Why no RTM?
You might question why not leave one spot for an RTM. Well, if you pick these six players, CSK will have a much more rounded side. You have two proven openers (Gaikwad and Rachin), two all-rounders (Jadeja and Hangargekar), MS Dhoni and the best death bowler (Pathirana). Now, is there a point in using an RTM on Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur or Mustafizur Rahman? Conway and Rahane are openers, so they aren’t needed. Chahar and Thakur have constant fitness issues; Mustafizur struggles with injuries as well and can be called back by Bangladesh at any moment. Dube is the only good option, but then you can get him at the IPL 2025 mega auction like the others mentioned above.
CSK’s current squad
MS Dhoni (wk), Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Aravelly Avanish Rao (wk), Sameer Rivzi, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Daryl Mitchell, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Nishant Sindhu, Ajay Mandal, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, Simarjeet Singh, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana, Richard Gleeson, Mustafizur Rahman, Shardul Thakur.
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