Aakash Chopra says CSK should release 7 players, excludes MS Dhoni
The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a disastrous campaign for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) so far. With only 3 wins from 13 matches, the three-time IPL champions are struggling to find their footing. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has weighed in on the situation, suggesting that CSK should release seven players after the tournament, including some big names.
In an exclusive interview with a leading news outlet, Chopra named Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, and Rahul Tripathi as the players who should be released by CSK. Interestingly, MS Dhoni, the CSK captain, is not on Chopra’s list of players to be released.
Chopra’s comments are likely to spark a debate among CSK fans and experts alike. Ashwin, in particular, has been a stalwart for the team over the years, taking 126 wickets in 92 matches at an economy rate of 7.42. Jadeja, too, has been a loyal servant of the team, contributing with both bat and ball. Both players have been part of the CSK setup for several years and have been crucial to the team’s success in the past.
However, Chopra’s argument is that both Ashwin and Jadeja have been struggling with their form this season. Ashwin has taken only 4 wickets in 8 matches, while Jadeja has scored only 59 runs in 7 matches. Chopra believes that the team needs to make some tough decisions and release players who are not contributing to the team’s success.
Conway, the New Zealand opener, has been a revelation for CSK in the past, but Chopra feels that he has not been able to maintain his form this season. Conway has scored only 134 runs in 7 matches, which is below his average. Chopra believes that the team needs some new blood and releasing Conway could be the way to go.
Shankar, another senior player in the CSK setup, has also been struggling with his form this season. He has scored only 64 runs in 6 matches and has been struggling to find his place in the team. Chopra believes that Shankar’s experience and skills are no longer contributing to the team’s success and that it’s time for him to move on.
Hooda, the all-rounder, has been a bit-part player for CSK this season, taking only 2 wickets in 5 matches. Chopra believes that Hooda’s form has been inconsistent and that the team needs to give opportunities to younger players.
Tripathi, the top-order batsman, has struggled to find his form this season, scoring only 122 runs in 7 matches. Chopra believes that Tripathi’s struggles are due to his lack of consistency and that the team needs to look for alternative options.
Rachin Ravindra, the young all-rounder, has been a bright spark for CSK this season, taking 5 wickets in 6 matches. However, Chopra believes that Rachin’s batting has not been consistent and that the team needs to look for a more reliable option.
It’s worth noting that Chopra’s comments are not necessarily a reflection on the players themselves, but rather a reflection of the team’s performance this season. CSK have been struggling to find their footing, and some tough decisions may need to be made to get the team back on track.
In conclusion, Aakash Chopra’s comments are likely to spark a debate among CSK fans and experts alike. While some may disagree with his assessment, others may see the logic in releasing some of the senior players to make way for younger talent. Only time will tell if CSK will take Chopra’s advice and make some tough decisions to get their campaign back on track.
