Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been the worst-performing team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. In theory, they remain in the playoff contention. But practically, their campaign is over. Having won just 2 of their 9 matches, the 5-time champions are dead last.
If CSK lose their match against Punjab Kings, they’ll be knocked out of IPL 2025. Bear in mind, 21 group stage matches will be yet to be played. That’s a humiliating way to go out, especially for the most successful team in the league’s history.
CSK’s planning for IPL 2026 starts
This will surely force CSK to plan differently going forward. And the aim to lift their 6th IPL trophy will start with who to release and retain before the IPL 2026 mini auction. Many players have underperformed; the team combinations don’t seem right, and there are ageing players as well.
Taking all of this into account, former Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) captain Adam Gilchrist thinks that CSK should release MS Dhoni, Shaik Rasheed, Devon Conway and Deepak Hooda. Of course, most would be shocked that Gilly mentioned Dhoni, considering he’s been the face of the franchise, and even in IPL 2025, he hasn’t been a big problem for them.
MS Dhoni should retire, says Gilchrist
But the truth is that CSK can’t move on until Dhoni does. They’ll continue to build a team around him and not a title-winning one. And Gilchrist knows this. “MS, well, he’ll know what he wants to do. But I’m saying for the future — it’s going to cost me this, I know — but perhaps he doesn’t need to be there next year. I love you, MS. You are a champion, an icon,” he said.
STAY or GO!
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Dhoni should play IPL 2026? @gilly381 analyses #CSK‘s squad, right here pic.twitter.com/mfO6qvphrB
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 30, 2025
Gilchrist has decided to retain Rahul Tripathi and let go of Shaik Rasheed. The former will be 35 by the IPL 2026 season, and in the ongoing event, he has scored 55 runs in 5 matches. The latter hasn’t done much better, but he’s just 20 years old and has been with CSK for 2 years already. Letting go of Conway and Hooda seems obvious given their age and performance.
CSK squad for IPL 2025
Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad (currently injured), MS Dhoni (c & wk), Devon Conway (wk)
, Rahul Tripathi, Shaik Rasheed, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddharth, Dewald Brevis , Ayush Mhatre
All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Rachin Ravindra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Shreyas Gopal, Ramakrishna Ghosh
Bowlers: Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Kamlesh Nagarkoti
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