Former India cricketer picks MS Dhoni as shock release before IPL 2027 retention deadline
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has picked legendary Chennai Super Kings (CSK) MS Dhoni as a potential shock release of the IPL 2027 retention window ahead of the mini-auction (via the Star Sports
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has picked legendary Chennai Super Kings (CSK) MS Dhoni as a potential shock release of the IPL 2027 retention window ahead of the mini-auction (via the Star Sports YouTube channel). Franchises must submit their retained and released lists by November 17, after the BCCI extended the original November 15 cut-off. The mini-auction follows on December 16 at ITC Grand Goa.
Dhoni’s last retention sat on the ₹4 crore uncapped-player slab, and IPL 2026 delivered nothing on the field for it. A calf strain that never fully settled gave way to a thumb injury, and he did not play a single match, the first season of his IPL career without an appearance.
The franchise appointed Zaheer Khan as head coach on a one-year deal, a call CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said Dhoni was part of.
The five-time champions have missed the playoffs in each of the last three IPL seasons.
Chopra names CSK and KKR as the teams facing the biggest churn
Chopra picked former champions CSK and KKR as the two franchises most likely to release the largest number of players before the 2027 auction. Chennai’s six wins in 14 league games left them outside the playoffs at eighth on the points table.
Meanwhile, KKR fared only slightly better, finishing seventh in the standings with 13 points in 14 outings.
The KKR squad is where the purse pressure is sharpest. Cameron Green cost ₹25.20 crore and returned 322 runs and seven wickets. Matheesha Pathirana, bought for ₹18 crore, did not play because of injury. After their incredible 2024 title run, KKR has missed the playoffs in each of the last two IPL seasons.
Two-time defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) sit at the other end of that scale. Chopra said the champions will be the most relaxed team at the auction, and the results support the assessment. Rajat Patidar’s side defended the title by beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final on May 31, and the core around Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Krunal Pandya and Josh Hazlewood is settled.
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