Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made five retentions before the IPL 2025 mega-auction and retained their core. The Yellow Army retained its captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for Rs 18 crore each. Indian all-rounder Shivam Dube was retained for Rs 12 crore while Matheesha Pathirana will continue his association with the franchise after getting retained for Rs 13 crore.
CSK retained MS Dhoni in the uncapped category for Rs 4 crore. Dhoni last played for India at the 2019 World Cup while he retired in August 2020. Since CSK retained five players before the auction, they have one Right to Match (RTM) card left going into the mega-auction.
Dhoni was retained in the uncapped category and CSK can use the RTM card on a capper player. A franchise was allowed to retain a maximum of five capped and one uncapped player.
The Times of India has reported that Devon Conway will be CSK's preferred choice to use the RTM card. Conway joined CSK in the IPL 2022 mega-auction. He became a regular member of CSK's playing XI in 2023 and played a key role in the title win. Conway missed IPL 2024 due to an injury. The opening batsman has performed consistently for CSK and they are reportedly set to re-sign him.
Rachin Ravindra struggled during his stint with CSK in IPL 2024. Rachin managed 222 runs in 10 matches in the season and was benched for 4 matches. He is in form in the series against India and could be on CSK's radar once again.
The report in TOI also adds that R Ashwin could be on his way back to CSK. He started his IPL career with CSK and stayed with them till IPL 2015. CSK tried to re-sign him in the IPL 2018 mega-auction but missed out. Ashwin was a key member of CSK under MS Dhoni's captaincy.