As the November 15 deadline for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 player retention list looms, the off-season has exploded with high-stakes drama and speculation involving some of the league’s biggest names. The focus is squarely on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK)who are navigating a disastrous 2025 season finish and the impending retirement of their iconic leader, MS Dhoni. This has ignited a complex web of trade rumors, most notably a blockbuster swap deal with the Rajasthan Royals. Amidst this uncertainty, franchise legend Suresh Raina has weighed in with a strong opinion on who must be retained. The decisions made in the next few days will define the future of the five-time champions and their rivals.

Suresh Raina’s retention blueprint for CSK for the IPL 2026

During a “Hold or Fold” segment on Star Sports, CSK legend Suresh Raina gave his definitive verdicts on the franchise’s retention strategy ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, outlining a clear plan that involves backing the core while releasing several others. When asked about Devon ConwayRaina immediately said, “Fold,” stating the team must release him because “they have to have a local opener” and they can find a good replacement in the upcoming mini-auction. However, he was firm on retaining Noor Ahmedgiving him a “Hold” because “they have a unique player in him, who bowls Chinaman,” adding that the demand for “mystery spinners” is very high.

Raina then advocated for a clean-out of underperformers, stating Vijay Shankar should be released: “Again I think they should, they should release him,” noting that he has already “received quite a lot of chances.” He shared the same sentiment for Deepak Hoodastating, “We should release them.” as they are part of a “same combination” that isn’t working.

When the host named Ravindra JadejaRaina first pivoted to MS Dhonisaying, “अगेन call on MS,” but firmly added, “I think if he is playing this year his presence with the team is very important,” strongly implying Dhoni must be retained. He then confirmed Ruturaj Gaikwad as the future, stating, “रितुराज कप्तान होंगे (Ruturaj will be the captain), they should retain him.” Finally, when pressed again on Jadeja, Raina was unequivocal, putting all trade rumors to rest by declaring“जडेजा… They should again retain him,” calling him a “gun player for CSK” who “has done really, really well,” concluding emphatically, “Sir Ravindra Jadeja should be there.”

CSK’s historic IPL 2025 fall under Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni

The CSK’s 2025 IPL campaign proved to be a catastrophic and historically disappointing season for the five-time champions, culminating in their worst-ever finish since the tournament’s inception. Having begun the season with a transition in leadership, the team appointed Travel Giikwad as captain, retaining him alongside Dhoni and Jadeja as their strategic core.

However, the season quickly unraveled. Midway through the tournament, Gaikwad suffered a severe setback after sustaining an elbow injury, a hairline fracture, that ruled him out of the remainder of the IPL. This unforeseen injury forced the iconic Dhoni to once again take the reins of captaincy, a return necessitated by crisis rather than design. Unfortunately, even the tactical wizardry and experience of the Ranchi legend could not stop the unprecedented slide.

The team managed only four victories out of 14 matches, leading to the franchise finishing 10th, at the absolute bottom of the points table, for the first time in their storied IPL history. Adding to the ignominy, CSK also lost five matches at their fortress, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, marking a new low for home-ground performance. This collective failure underscores the massive rebuild the team faces ahead of the 2026 auction, validating Raina’s concern that the very important old guard must be retained to steady the ship.