The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have finally unveiled their retained and released players list for IPL 2026, which is already one of the most discussed updates before the mega season. With blockbuster trades, surprise releases and wise investments in youth, CSK is readying itself for a new era without upending its age-old system.
So, in this article we fully analyse the full list of who CSK kept, who left and what these decisions now mean for the team ahead of IPL 2026.
CSK Retained Players List for IPL 2026
| Player Name | Role | Status Update |
| MS Dhoni | WK-Batter | Retained |
| Sanju Samson | WK-Batter | Trade Completed |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Batter | Retained |
| Ayush Mhatre | Batter | Retained |
| Jamie Overton | All-Rounder | Retained |
| Dewald Brevis | Batter | Retained |
| Ramakrishna Ghosh | All-Rounder | Retained |
| Urvil Patel | WK-Batter | Retained |
| Gurjapneet Singh | All-Rounder | Retained |
| Shivam Dube | All-Rounder | Retained |
| Noor Ahmad | Bowler | Retained |
| Khaleel Ahmed | Bowler | Retained |
| Anshul Kamboj | All-Rounder | Retained |
| Nathan Ellis | Bowler | Retained |
| Shreyas Gopal | Bowler | Retained |
| Mukesh Choudhary | Bowler | Retained |
Key Points From The Retained List
- MS Dhoni Stays: The biggest positive, and huge relief for the CSK fans – MS Dhoni is here to stay as a member of the squad, and he obviously gives so much more leadership material to this team, courtesy his experience and understanding of this game!
- Sanju Samson Joins Carefully: CSL have signed Sanju Samson as a Motivation to cheer the wicket keeping and more top;Leave all of your curses for this individual and pack off Not Wanted On Voyage daybridge the top pair within 8 overs with Shane Watson.
- Youthful Core Strong: Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel continue to remain in the team, reflecting CSK’s long-term outlook.
- All Rounder Power: CSK is very strong in both departments and has the versatility through several options of Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Kamboj plus Gurjapneet.
- Bowling Stability: Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis provide them with good pace-plus-spin options going into 2026.
CSK Released Players List for IPL 2026
| Player Name | Exit Type | Reason |
| Sam Curran | Traded to RR | Trade completed |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Released | Not retained |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Traded to RR | Part of Samson swap |
| Kamlesh Nagarkoti | Released | Cleared after review |
| Devon Conway | Released | Long-term strategy |
| Rachin Ravindra | Released | Team restructuring |
| Deepak Hooda | Released | Not in plans |
| Rahul Tripathi | Released | Low impact |
| Vijay Shankar | Released | Performance reasons |
| Andre Siddarth | Released | Released in final list |
| Shaik Rasheed | Released | Removed from final retained list |
| Vansh Bedi | Released | Youngster released |
Notable Exits & Their Impact
- Ravindra Jadeja Traded: Biggest upset for fans - Jadeja has been associated with CSK for long due to his iconic performances in last 12 years. He was part of the Samson trade to RR.
- Sam Curran Moves Out: An other high profile all-rounder exit and it signals change in CSK’s team combination method.
- Conway, Rachin Out: Both of them have their potential but the franchise will go with a different batting blueprint for future.
- Pathirana Released: Injuries and Hot And Cold form may have played a part.
These departures make for a huge purse ahead of IPL 2026 auction.
What to Expect from CSK in IPL 2026
- 2026 could open a new beginning for CSK, with :
- About the new and attacking batting order
- New bowlers in the side at beginning of tournament with Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary
- Young all-rounders taking on more responsibility
- A Dhoni-centric structure for stability, adaptation
What is evident that -CSK is rebuilding smartly, not emotionally- to be competitive for next 3–4 years.
Final Thoughts
CSK Retained Players List 2026 and Released Players List: CSK takes bold steps with an eye on the future The  CSK Retained & Released Players List 2026 paints a picture of a masterplan by the franchise. Though fans may be hurting over certain such high-profile losses, the team seems to have balance and depth – and long-term success - in mind.
A core has been retained, smart releases made, and the five-time champions will go to the IPL 2026 auction with a clear plan on how to use their three RTMs (matching cards), while another title-winning squad takes shape.
