IPL: 5 Players CSK should release ahead of next season

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) endured a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign, becoming the first team eliminated before the halfway mark of the season. With just two wins in their first ten matches, they currently sit at the bottom of the points table. Even the presence of MS Dhoni couldn’t inspire a turnaround.

Critics point to the IPL 2025 mega auction as the root of CSK’s struggles, where the franchise clung to an outdated strategy of backing aging players. While this approach paid off in 2018, modern T20 cricket demands younger, impact-driven performers rather than relying solely on experience.

Heading into the next season, CSK must consider a serious squad overhaul. To rebuild effectively, they’ll need to release underperforming players and free up budget space for fresh, match-winning talent.

Here are five players CSK should consider releasing ahead of the next IPL season:

1. Rahul Tripathi 

 Rahul Tripathi was brought in to fill the void left by Ajinkya Rahane in the top order, but he failed to make a meaningful impression. In the five matches he played, Tripathi scored just 55 runs at a dismal average of 11.00 and a strike rate of 96.49—too slow for a top-order batter in the modern T20 format.

His inability to convert starts into significant contributions added pressure on the middle order. Despite his domestic experience and flashes of brilliance in previous seasons with other franchises, Tripathi’s time at CSK has not yielded results. It’s time for the franchise to explore younger, more explosive options. 

2. Deepak Hooda 

Acquired as a versatile option capable of finishing games and chipping in with the ball, Deepak Hooda has had a forgettable season. He managed just 31 runs in five innings with a strike rate of 75.61—well below the required standard for a middle-order batter in T20 cricket.

His inability to accelerate or play with intent was a major setback for CSK, especially in tight chases. Hooda’s contributions with the ball were minimal, making his overall impact negligible. Given the high standards expected at CSK, retaining Hooda for another season seems unjustifiable.

3. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravi Ashwin’s return to CSK after nearly a decade generated excitement, with fans hoping for a potent spin trio alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad. However, the veteran off-spinner struggled to make a significant impact. He picked up only five wickets in the season, conceding runs at an economy of 9.29 and averaging 44.60.

Ashwin’s bowling lacked the bite and control that once made him a T20 asset. While his experience and cricketing intellect are unquestionable, CSK must now look toward younger, more effective spinners capable of delivering under pressure.

4. Matheesha Pathirana

Once seen as a future star in CSK’s pace attack, Matheesha Pathirana’s form has taken a sharp downturn. Post his hamstring injury in 2024, the Sri Lankan speedster hasn’t quite looked the same. In IPL 2025, he picked up nine wickets but conceded runs at an alarming economy rate of 10.39, with an average of 33.11.

For a bowler earmarked for death overs, such numbers are concerning. Releasing Pathirana could free up a significant INR 13 crore, which CSK can use to recruit a more consistent fast-bowling option.

5. Devon Conway

Devon Conway was instrumental in CSK’s 2022 and 2023 campaigns, scoring 924 runs in 22 innings at a strike rate of 141.28. However, after recovering from an injury, he failed to recapture his form in 2025. In three matches this season, Conway managed just 94 runs at a reduced strike rate of around 127.

His slower starts led to a rare ‘retired out’ call by the team management—an indication of how much his role had diminished. With promising talent like Rachin Ravindra already in the squad, CSK would benefit from moving on and grooming a new long-term opener.

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