Chennai Super Kings has released the list of players it has retained and released for IPL 2026. The CSK team has changed significantly since the retentions. The team has released players like Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. These players will no longer be seen playing for CSK in the upcoming season. CSK has ₹43.4 crore left for the upcoming season.

Mathisha Pathirana has been released
The Chennai Super Kings have released star bowler Mathisha Pathirana. He was retained for ₹13 crore ahead of the 2024 season. He played 32 matches for CSK in the IPL, taking 47 wickets. If his price drops in the IPL auction, CSK could acquire him.

Sanju Samson enters CSK squad

CSK traded Sanju Samson to Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran ahead of the IPL retention process. Jadeja has been one of CSK’s most important players, leading them to title victories in 2018, 2021, and 2023. Jadeja has taken over 150 wickets for the Super Kings and scored over 2,300 runs. Sanju Samson, on the other hand, brings experience that could be useful to CSK. He also captained Rajasthan Royals from 2021 to 2025.

Chennai Super Kings is considered one of the most successful teams in the IPL. Under Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy, they have won the IPL trophy five times. However, the team’s performance in IPL 2025 was poor, finishing last in the points table. The team played 14 matches last season, winning only four and losing 10. With 8 points, their net run rate was minus 0.647.

11 players were released

Rahul Tripathi, Vansh Bedi, C Andre Siddharth, Rachin Ravindra, Sam Curran, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Sheikh Rashid, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ravindra Jadeja and Mathisha Pathirana