Chennai Super Kings

CSK have released 11 players, the most among the 10 franchises, as they attempt to reset after finishing bottom of the table for the first time in their IPL history

IPL 2026's retention list is defined by three themes: the blockbuster Jadeja-Samson-Curran swap, the release of several global stars, and franchises making sharp value

Pathirana's release follows two injury-affected seasons and a notable dip in form.

CSK MD Kasi Viswanathan reveals why the franchise made the tough call to trade Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran for Sanju Samson ahead of IPL 2026.

His return to the franchise that first dubbed him Rockstar marks a full-circle moment - but it also raises a key question: why would one of the IPL's top all-rounders accept a reduced salary now?

The batter, who has three IPL and three international centuries to his name, is seen as MS Dhoni's replacement in the squad, both as a leader and a wicketkeeper-batter.

Since this is not a mega auction, franchises have the freedom to retain or release as many players as they wish.

The move is termed surprising as CSK fans are questioning whether Sanju in the squad is worth sending their legend Ravindra Jadeja over to the other side

Seventeen years after he first wore the jersey of Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural IPL, the veteran all-rounder could return to the franchise where it all began, bringing his journey full circle

IPL 2026 retention rules allow franchises to retain an unlimited number of players, with no cap on the number of capped Indian players, overseas players, or uncapped players they can keep

Ravindra Jadeja for Sanju Samson, a swap once dismissed as fantasy by insiders, is now at the heart of active negotiations between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR)

The veteran, who has been the face of the Super Kings since the league's inception in 2008, remains committed to guiding the franchise through another season

Reports suggest that Devon Conway, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, and Sam Curran may find themselves on CSK's release list

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's IPL career was full of drama. Here are the top five controversies that defined his 16 years in the tournament.

Chennai Super Kings on Saturday issued clarification regarding the signing of Dewald Brevis midway through the IPL 2025 season, saying the signing process of the South African batter was in "complete compliance with the rules and regulations" of the league. A raging controversy was sparked as former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, currently in the CSK roster, hinted in his YouTube channel that the five-time IPL champions were willing to pay extra to avail Brevis' services. "Chennai Super Kings categorically clarifies that all actions taken by the franchise during the signing process of Dewald Brevis as a Replacement Player during TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 were in complete compliance with the rules and regulations of IPL, the CSK said in a statement. In April, 2025, Dewald Brevis was signed for a league fee of INR 2.2 Cr as a replacement player for the injured Gurjapneet Singh, who was picked up at the IPL 2025 Player Auction held at Abadi AI Johar Arena, Jeddah, Saudi

Ashwin's previous comments, made during a video on his YouTube channel, had stirred controversy after he hinted that CSK were willing to pay extra to secure Brevis during IPL 2025.

Ashwin, who was picked up by CSK for ₹9.75 crore at the 2025 mega auction, featured in just nine of the team's 14 matches this season, a significant drop from his usual involvement.

Speculation has intensified following a series of high-level meetings in Chennai involving top CSK personnel, including skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and former captain MS Dhoni.

Talking about the last campaign where CSK finished at the very bottom with just four wins in fourteen outings, Dhoni emphasised the importance of identifying and rectifying flaws

Dhoni filed his trademark application through the Trademarks Registry's Kolkata office under Class 41, which covers education, training, entertainment, sporting, and cultural activities