| Players Retained | Remaining Purse for Auction | RTM |
| 5 | 55 Crores | 1 |
With their retention policy, Chennai did Chennai things. They played it safe and managed to keep the fans happy. Now, tt remains to be seen whether they’re able to repeat the same at the auction table and assemble a team that can lift the trophy. Along predicted lines, Chennai retained its core and with the new uncapped player rule allowing them to get MS Dhoni at just 4 crore, they even managed to keep a decent purse for the auctions. Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad were retained for the highest amount. Explosive middle-order batter Shivam Dube and Sri Lankan pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana were also retained by the Chennai management. The news that made the Chennai fans happiest was the retention of MS Dhoni who agreed to be available for one more year for the men in Yellow.
But despite the strong retentions, building a strong team around this core can be a huge task for Chennai. The remaining budget, although not as low as Mumbai’s, is still a constraint. Besides, unlike in Mumbai’s case, none of these players are a part of the current Indian T20I setup, although Dube and Jadeja were part of the T20 World Cup winning team in June. Pathirana, despite having all the qualities of being an X factor, hasn’t been without fitness issues in the past 12 months. However, these players have flourished in Chennai colors and it’s quite likely that they can continue doing so, irrespective of their positions in their respective national sides. The presence of MS Dhoni also indicates that Ruturaj’s mentoring as a leader will still continue in 2025 after a challenging first season as captain in 2024 where the team failed to make it to the playoffs.
The team will also have a one Right to Match option at the auctions and with a number of brilliant performers in their squad in the last few years, it wouldn’t be an easy pick for the team.
Auction Strategy ahead of IPL 2025
The team has a solid opener who is also their captain in Ruturaj Gaekwad. In Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube, the team has two all-rounders who bat in the middle order. Pathirana is possibly one of the finest death bowlers in the world right now and hence an asset for Chennai. In MS Dhoni, the team has a wicketkeeper and a leadership figure in the side. The team not only needs to look for a partner for Ruturaj at the top of the order but also a few more names in the top order as the likes of Ajinkya Rahane and Moeen Ali are unlikely to feature there again. Besides, there also need to be spinners and pacers to support the Pathirana and Jadeja led bowling attack. Moreover, the team would need a solid young wicket-keeper batter who can replace MS Dhoni in the setup in the coming years.
A possible Right to Match pick for Chennai would be Devon Conway who had a great 2023 with the team but couldn’t be available for the 2024 season. His absence led to a lot of chopping and changing at the top of the order, resulting in an average season for even Ruturaj. The team might also gravitate towards Rachin Ravindra who brings his all-round skills to the table. However, given the history of the franchise, where they have trusted experience more than the promise of youth, it’s likely that the management will go for Conway.
Here are some players that the CSK management can target at the auction table
Faf Du Plessis – The South African spent a long time at Chennai before moving to Bangalore. But with Bangalore releasing him, Chennai can also go after him. Despite being 40, Du Plessis is one of the fittest cricketers around and someone who only plays in T20 leagues. His success with the bat at Major League Cricket and success as a leader with St. Lucia Kings at Caribbean Premier League testifies to his relevance to T20 cricket. If Chennai fail to get the services of Conway, Du Plessis might be the man for them to come in as an opener.
Ravichandran Ashwin – The spinner started his career with Chennai and had a terrific time there, playing an important role in the team’s multiple title wins. Now, at the fag end of his career, it would make all cricketing sense for the offie to return to yellow. While he hasn’t been a part of Team India’s T20I setup, there are fewer players who have a better understanding of conditions of Chennai. Besides, in 2024, he had a fantastic time leading Dindigul Dragons in the TNPL where he not only led the team to a title win but also starred with his bat. At 38, there is very less likelihood for a lot of bids for him in the auction and Chennai can then get him at a reasonable price.
T Natarajan – Natarajan has made his name playing for Hyderabad but him being in the auction pool gives Chennai a chance to get a player who has consistently played and performed in Chennai in the T20 format. If the franchise can put together a bowling attack made up of Natarajan and Pathirana, it would make death overs very difficult for opposition batters.
Marcus Stoinis – In the 2024 season, Stoinis played a special knock to win Lucknow a match in Chennai. The Australian all-rounder, with all his experience, could very well be the glue that holds the Chennai batting lineup together at number 4. His ability to shift gears is well-known and so, he can also take the attack to the bowlers in the death overs. His crafty medium pace, where he uses cutters to a great effect can also prove to be crucial on the Chennai tracks.
Chennai can also look to buy back players like Maheesh Theekshana and Deepak Chahar who have been with the team for several years and have also delivered the goods.
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