IPL: MS Dhoni to meet with coach Stephen Fleming and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad to finalise CSK retention list

MS Dhoni to meet with coach Stephen Fleming and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad to finalise CSK retention list (PTI Photo)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are yet to take any final call on their retentions ahead of the mini-auction for the 2026 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL). As reported by RevSportz, a decision will be taken only after a meeting between head coach Stephen Fleming, former captain MS Dhoni and current captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. It added that the franchise, which finished bottom in the previous edition, are waiting for the league to release the date for submission of the list of the retained players.

The report also cited a CSK official, who debunked all reports of the franchise deciding to end ties with Devon Conway, Sam Curran, Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda and Vijay Shankar.

“See, we haven’t discussed it in-house yet,” the official was quoted as saying in the report. “MS has just returned from the US. Fleming is in New Zealand, and the IPL hasn’t even given the date as regards the submission of the list of the retained players. Fleming, MS and Ruturaj will have a meeting to draw up the list. Then it will be taken to Mr Srinivasan for his approval.”

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Meanwhile, with the return of N Srinivasan, the former BCCI and the ICC chief, as the CSK chairman, he is expected to have the final word on all cricket matters. The report mentioned that since Srinivasan “doesn’t like chopping and changing, and is in favour of having stability” the coaching staff is likely to remain the same as the last edition.

However, the official did point out a gap that CSK need to fill at the mini-auction, which is the void in spin department after the retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin. “There are a few left-arm spinners, but off-spinners are in short supply,” he said. “We did our scouting at the TNPL (Tamil Nadu Premier League) and the junior level, there are a few who bowl off-spin, but getting that quality is very difficult. And in a mini-auction, it’s very unlikely that you will get top quality. Franchises will hardly release the top Indian players.”

Hence, CSK might be forced to seek an overseas option, which will once again be finalised after discussion among Dhoni, Fleming, and Gaikwad.