IPL 2025 Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Confirmed Retained Players

MS Dhoni confirmed as uncapped player in our best retained players list for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for IPL 2025. 

The Chennai Super Kings will be one of the few teams that will benefit the most from the recently officially announced IPL 2025 player retention rules by the BCCI. In its official update, BCCI has formally announced that any player who hasn’t played International cricket for more than 5 years will now be considered under the uncapped players category. So, what does this mean for the CSK fans?

Well, this particular (Highlighted under rule number 7) rules will now allow the Chennai Super Kings team to retain MS Dhoni under the special uncapped players category. This is a big update in the IPL 2025 player retentions as arguably MS Dhoni remains one of the only few Indian players to fall under the uncapped players category for not having played International cricket for more than 5 years. The others mostly being Piyush Chawla, Amit Mishra, etc.

The retention of MS Dhoni as an uncapped player changes the retained players equation for the CSK team. CSK can now look to hire 5 capped players under the Retention or RTM umbrella depending on the price they would like to spend on these players. So, considering the best-case scenario, let’s look at the list of the best possible retained players for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for IPL 2025.

IPL 2025 Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Retained Players Strategy Explained

As we know, if teams were to retain players, they would have to spend 18 Cr for the first player, 14 Cr for the second player, 11 Cr for the third player, and then the price increases to 18 Cr for the fourth player, and 14 Cr for the fifth player. The increase is price encourages more teams to pass their players in the Auction. Whereas for the uncapped players, teams will have to spend only 4 Cr. So, with these rules, what strategy will CSK adopt for IPL 2025 player retentions?

Well, overall, CSK should now retain only a total of 4 players including MS Dhoni as the uncapped player. For the four players, CSK won’t mind spending 18 Cr for Ravindra Jadeja, 14 Cr for Ruturaj Gaikwad, and 11 Cr for Shivam Dube. These three have been ideal matchwinners for CSK, and spending 43 Cr on them isn’t a bad option. In addition, CSK will spend 4 Cr to retain MS Dhoni as an uncapped player.

Should CSK Retain More than 4 Players?

Now, retaining four players including uncapped is a wise task for CSK given they have spent 47 Cr on their top 4 players. But things will get very interesting if CSK plan to retain more than 4 players. The team has options in the form of Matheesha Pathirana, and Devon Conway. Rachin Ravindra, and Moeen Ali among the top players. But will they spend 18 Cr and 14 Cr on these players?

Well, it won’t be wise for Chennai Super Kings to invest in any of these players, and block 18 Cr and 14 Cr unwantedly. Of course, they can pay them less in retention itself, but the purse will still be blocked for 32 Cr for two players. So, it will be best for CSK not to go any further for retaining more players, and Instead use RTM cards on them in the Auction for the price they are bid for.

RTM Strategy for CSK

The RTM (Right to Match) concept is an interesting one. Suppose RCB bid 10 Cr for Matheesha Pathirana. Then CSK can match the bid at 10 Cr. However, if RCB can increase the bid for Pathirana one more time, and even in that case, CSK will get the opportunity to rematch the highest bid, and exercise the RTM card. So, RTMs are in a way very useful for teams who don’t shell out big money while retaining them. 

IPL 2025 Likely Retained Players List for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

1. Ravindra Jadeja – 18 Cr
2. Ruturaj Gaikwad – 14 Cr
3. Shivam Dube – 11 Cr
4. MS Dhoni – 4 Cr

RTMs available: 2 // Purse Left: 73 Cr. 

So, that’s about the best retain players list for CSK for IPL 2025. Overall, expect Chennai Super Kings to retain only 4 players for IPL 2025, viz., Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and MS Dhoni. The team does have more quality players that they would have ideally liked to retain. But given the price dynamics for retentions, it would be ideal for CSK to buy those players via RTM card in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction.

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