Follow UsFormer Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star Subramaniam Badrinath is of the opinion that CSK should release both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja ahead of IPL 2026 in order to save up cash for the next mini auction.
Ashwin (9.75 cr) and Jadeja (18 cr retention) together cost the franchise a whopping 27.75 cr but both senior players have been extremely disappointing. While Ashwin has already been dropped from the starting XI after poor returns with the ball, Jadeja has struggled to impact games positively, taking only 6 wickets in 9 games while striking at just 125 with the bat in hand.
Badrinath feels CSK should release Jadeja, but is unsure if the franchise will have the heart to do it.
"I have utmost respect for my good friend Ravichandran Ashwin but I think he should be released. And also Vijay Shankar. If you release both these players, you'll save some 13-14 crores. And if you release a few others, you'll easily save 20 crores. Pick some youngster, pick someone from BBL or some other league. The time has come,” Badrinath said on his YouTube channel ‘Cricket it with Badri’.
"If I was a part of CSK management, I would release Jadeja as well, but all of us know it won't happen because the management's long-term relationship with Jadeja is good,” he added.
The former CSK batter further expressed his bewilderment over CSK going back to Sam Curran. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, not only did Curran come back into the XI, he batted at No.3 ahead of the debuting Dewald Brevis. But Curran could only manage 9 off 10 balls while conceding 25 runs off the 2 overs he bowled.
"Sam Curran batting at No.3 and Jadeja at No.4, I couldn't comprehend what was even happening,” Badrinath said.
“First of all, I don't know why Sam Curran is even in the playing XI. He is not capable of bowling four overs, and his confidence is low with the bat, he does not look like he'll get any runs. So I'm still wondering why CSK went back to Curran and played him at No.3 on top of that.
"You have picked Dewald Brevis as a specialist batter but you're sending two all-rounders ahead of him. It's extremely confusing. I feel CSK are confused, and it's probably too late to fix things now."