Chennai Super Kings' Retention Strategy For IPL 2025: A Closer Look

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) concluded their IPL 2024 league stage with a defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which saw the defending champions finish outside the top four due to a slightly inferior Net Run Rate (NRR).

After winning the title last season and holding a record of 12 playoffs in IPL history, a partially injury-hit CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third time in their 15 appearances in IPL.

Ahead of the 2024 IPL Auction, CSK had retained the core of their squad and added well at the auction. However, they lost key player Devon Conway before the season started and missed several players through injury during the campaign.

CSK's bowling attack was weakened after injuries to Matheesha Pathirana and Deepak Chahar. Additionally, Mahendra Singh Dhoni handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad just a day before the season opener, hinting that 2024 could have been his final season.

Despite taking over captaincy, Gaikwad's batting form remained strong, but some of his decisions as captain received criticism. However, CSK is likely to back him as their captain for the next few seasons with Dhoni possibly having played his last game in the league.

The IPL 2025 auction will be a mega auction similar to 2022, when CSK retained MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Gaikwad, and Moeen Ali. Three of these four players could still remain with the franchise.

Teams are reportedly being allowed only four retentions like previous IPL Mega Auctions. However, there are also reports that franchise owners have requested the BCCI to allow each team up to eight retentions.

While there is no official confirmation on how many retentions will be allowed ahead of IPL 2025 Mega Auction, it is very likely that a minimum of four players can be retained by each team. Additionally, there could be a Right To Match (RTM) card available for every team.

If only four players are allowed to be retained, then CSK may not face a huge dilemma on who to release and retain ahead of the next auction as they look to assemble a squad that could see them challenging in the next few seasons.

If Dhoni is fit and keen to play, it would be an easy decision for CSK to make him their first pick for retention. However, he is very likely to remain with the franchise in a different capacity, allowing the team to be built around the new skipper.

Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain is likely to be the first retention for CSK. But who among Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, Devon Conway, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Matheesha Pathirana, Mitchell Santner and Tushar Deshpande will join him?

Ravindra Jadeja, despite a mixed run this season, is likely to be retained alongside Shivam Dube, who has shown potential to change games single-handedly. These three Indian players may be retained by CSK before the next auction.

Chahar, Deshpande, Santner and several other stars may be looked at during the auction. Meanwhile, CSK may opt for a player who would be challenging to buy at the auction for their remaining retention slot.

CSK will likely retain Matheesha Pathirana and may use the RTM card to buy back Conway. Here is the possible retention list for Super Kings:

CSK Retention List 2025

• Ruturaj Gaikwad - retained
• Ravindra Jadeja - retained
• Shivam Dube - retained
• Matheesha Pathirana - retained
• Devon Conway - RTM