Aakash Chopra opens up on CSK’s potential releases ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has shed light on Chennai Super Kings’ potential releases ahead of the next season of the Indian Premier League. Chopra said the five-time champions are all set to release opener Devon Conway ahead of the mini-auction.

The left-hander from New Zealand had managed only 156 runs in six matches of IPL 2025 at an average of 26. Meanwhile, Chopra highlighted that CSK will also INR 9.75 crores more in their purse after their veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin retired from IPL.

“They will have a long list of retentions. The release list is slightly shorter. So let’s focus on that. One guy has already gone. He was a very expensive player, goes by the name of Ravichandran Ashwin. He releases ₹9.75 crore, and that, in my opinion, is a significant sum. Another player who is slightly expensive, and I feel the team will release him, and that’s Devon Conway,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“They stayed with Devon Conway for a long time. Devon Conway did well for this team as well, but he had some injury issues last year or the year before that, and the opportunities he was given weren’t enough. So I think they will release him, and it’s a lot of money – ₹6.25 crore. That makes it ₹16 crore already. You are already sitting in a good place,” he added.

The renowned commentator highlighted that CSK will need to release Rahul Tripathi, who had failed to deliver the goods in the previous season. Tripathi scored 55 runs in five matches in IPL 2025 at an average of 11.

“They will have to release Rahul Tripathi. He comes for ₹3.40 crore. You should release him because as soon as you do that, another three-and-a-half crores, which means you have already reached nearly ₹20 crore, and you have released just three players. That just releases a lot of money for you to play around,” he said.

The former Delhi cricketer said CSK will also release Deepak Hooda and Vijay Shankar. Hooda and Shankar scored 31 and 118 runs in five innings respectively in the previous season.

“After that, you will release Deepak Hooda. He is worth ₹1.70 crore. You will release Vijay Shankar. He is worth ₹1.20 crore. So nearly ₹3 crore will be released here as well. Now you are looking at ₹23 crore,” Chopra observed.

As per the reports, CSK is set to trade Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja to the Rajasthan Royals for Sanju Samson.