IPL retention deadline: Can CSK afford to lose Jadeja? Would KKR, LSG go for a rebuild? And other key talking points

CSK: Can they afford to lose Jadeja?

Even during the course of the 2025 season, where they finished at the bottom, they filled a couple of big holes. Ayush Mhatre provided them with intent at the top and Dewald Brevis slotted straightaway in the middle-order. They also got an aggressive wicketkeeper batsman in Urvil Patel. Samson’s potential arrival means their top order is taken care of. But if Jadeja leaves, there is a huge hole to fill. Being the all-rounder he is, whether it takes two players to replace or they go for two time will tell, but they are also in need of a finisher. For a franchise that has preferred continuity, this time they have chosen reset button and hence a lot of their players could be back in auction pool as intent to go with a big purse to fill the holes.

DC: Holding on to KL Rahul

They didn’t finish in the top four, but are unlikely to shake their core. Delhi resisted a couple of offers from a couple of franchises for KL Rahul, which showed their faith in him. But they are likely to release Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk, and are deliberating over T Natarajan too. The pacer hasn’t featured in any competitive cricket apart from TNPL recently and there are concerns about his form. If they release a few more domestic uncapped players, they will have a purse around Rs 25-30 crore which could be enough to strengthen their core.

GT: Middle-order focus

An already strong team on paper, GT were top-heavy last season with Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler getting the majority of runs. While Sherfane Rutherford handled the finishing role, his move to MI leaves them short in that regard. That they struggled in the business end wasn’t without a reason as they still lack a proven middle-order batsman, but could be looking at a stronger role for Washington Sundar, who attracted trade interest. They spent Rs 48.25 crore on four players and if they need to strengthen their batting, would have to free up some funds through that avenue. If not, they have to let go of at least a dozen players who they bought at base price and slightly above. A tricky spot for them.

KKR: Wanted – leader, star Indian batsman

They actively pursued Rahul and Samson as they need a wicketkeeper, captain and big-name Indian batsman and either of them would have been perfect. Last season showed the side is clearly imbalanced. Buying Venkatesh Iyer at Rs 23.75 crore contributed to it, so it would be interesting to see if they send him back into the auction pool and try to bring him back at a cheaper price. Releasing Andre Russell is also a realistic option if they seek someone like Cameron Green. They need an overhaul, so who they will release is the big question.

LSG: Two big-money Indian names to the pool?

Another franchise that could end up at the auction table with a big purse. The duo of Mayank Yadav, who struggled to be fit, and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi cost them Rs 22 crore combined as part of their last retentions and they could end up in the auction pool again. They are also deliberating over Avesh Khan and David Miller, which means the franchise will be looking to enter the auction around Rs 30 crores to fill the gaps.

MI: Eyeing spin resources

Won’t be a surprise if they enter the auction with the least purse. They have most bases covered, but will be looking to strengthen their spin resources. While none of their big names will be released, they might release Deepak Chahar who cost them Rs 9.25 crore and instead look for a cheaper option, with Thakur coming in. A few uncapped players could be released in case they want to bring on board another gem that their scouts may have unearthed.

PBKS: A rare non-reset

At every auction, they press for a reset. But this time will be different. The losing finalists, as expected, prefer continuity and want to build from where they left off. There are talks of letting go of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis in search of Cameron Green. Given the competition for Green, they may have to even take the risk of putting Yuzvendra Chahal into the auction pool. While he cost Rs 18 crore, there is no guarantee he would cost less this time. A few uncapped players may be shown the exit door.

RR: Need a bowling reboot

The potential arrival of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran would definitely strengthen them. They may not miss Sanju Samson as much as they have Dhruv Jurel and Vaibhav Suryavanshi ready to replace him. But they need significant reinforcements in other spots, in particular the bowling unit. Jofra Archer comes with a risk, in particular after the Ashes and the T20 World Cup. Sri Lankan spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana may be let go and what they do with Shimron Hetmyer isn’t clear at this stage.

RCB: Champions look stable

Don’t expect major changes. The one possibility is that they release Liam Livingstone and a few uncapped players in the hope of finding a more reliable middle-order batsman. The champions have very few headaches on the field.

SRH: Klaasen – keep or sell?

There are indications that they will let go off Mohammed Shami and Heinrich Klaasen who cost them Rs 23 crore. While concerns around Shami aren’t misplaced, letting go off Klaasen may be a costly mistake as other franchises could end with a far more significant purse. They need a bankable Indian pacer as they only have Harshal Patel as the other option. Rahul Chahar is a likely candidate to be released alongside uncapped players.