Now Reading: CSK Retention List for IPL 2027: Who Stays, Who Goes and What Happens to Dhoni?
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CSK Retention List for IPL 2027: Who Stays, Who Goes and What Happens to Dhoni?
The countdown is on for Chennai Super Kings. With the retention deadline set for November 15, 2026, the five-time champions must decide who stays and who heads to the IPL 2027 mini-auction. The big question is MS Dhoni, and CSK also have an overseas squeeze to fix.
When Will CSK Announce Their Retention List?
CSK are yet to announce their retained and released players. All 11 franchises will reveal their lists on the same day, November 15, 2026.
That announcement will settle who continues in yellow next season and who goes into the auction pool. Reports suggest CSK are likely to keep most of their core group.
CSK Probable Retained Players for IPL 2027
Ruturaj Gaikwad is set to lead a squad that features Sanju Samson, MS Dhoni, Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis. Here is the list of players expected to stay.
| Player | Note |
|---|---|
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Captain |
| Sanju Samson | Indian batter |
| Shivam Dube | Indian all-rounder |
| Sarfaraz Khan | Indian batter |
| Ayush Mhatre | Out for four months after surgery |
| Urvil Patel | Indian batter |
| Ramakrishna Ghosh | Indian all-rounder |
| Anshul Kamboj | Indian pacer |
| Mukesh Choudhary | Indian pacer |
| Gurjapneet Singh | Indian pacer |
| Dewald Brevis* | Overseas |
| Jamie Overton* | Overseas |
| Noor Ahmad* | Overseas |
| Liam Livingstone | Traded from SRH |
| Jack Edwards* | Traded from SRH |
*Overseas players
The Dhoni Question
MS Dhoni is listed as uncertain. His retention depends on whether he decides to play IPL 2027. Until he makes that call, it is the biggest storyline around CSK.
Who Could Be Released?
Rahul Chahar, Matt Henry and Matthew Short are reportedly among the names likely to be axed. The franchise has not confirmed anything yet.
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Rahul Chahar | Reportedly set to be released |
| Matt Henry* | Reportedly set to be released |
| Matthew Short* | Reportedly set to be released |
| Prashant Veer | Under review |
| Shreyas Gopal | Under review |
| Spencer Johnson* | Under review |
| Zak Foulkes* | Under review |
| Nathan Ellis* | Traded to SRH |
| Khaleel Ahmed | Traded to SRH |
The Overseas Puzzle
The four-player trade with Sunrisers Hyderabad lifts CSK’s overseas group from eight to nine. The squad size stays at 25, which means 17 Indian and eight overseas players before the deal.
To comply with squad composition rules, CSK must release or trade at least one overseas player before the auction. That makes the release list more than a routine clean-up.
Purse and Budget Picture
CSK ended the IPL 2026 auction with ₹2.40 crore left in their purse. The SRH trade adds a net salary commitment of ₹2.20 crore.
Cricbuzz reported that the budget for the 2027 mini-auction rises from ₹125 crore to ₹130 crore. The final purse and available slots depend on who CSK retain and release.
| Key Number | Value |
|---|---|
| Purse left after IPL 2026 auction | ₹2.40 crore |
| Net salary from SRH trade | ₹2.20 crore |
| Budget for 2027 mini-auction | ₹130 crore (up from ₹125 crore) |
| Squad size after IPL 2026 auction | 25 players |
| Projected overseas players | 9 |
When Is the IPL 2027 Mini-Auction?
The IPL 2027 mini-auction is reportedly set for December 16, 2026, in Goa. It will be a one-day event and the last auction of the current cycle before the mega auction for IPL 2028.
Some reports also mention November 17 as a deadline. The officially notified retention deadline is November 15.
What to Watch Next
Watch for three things on retention day: Dhoni’s decision, the overseas names who exit, and how much purse CSK free up. Those choices will shape their auction strategy for IPL 2027.
