It is pretty difficult for IPL (Indian Premier League) teams to have complete ownership over their squad. Owing to the mega auctions (which happens every 3 years) and player retentions and releases, teams constantly fiddle with their squads. To achieve the fine balance between performance and salary cap, teams have to let go of few key players. Chennai Super Kings , the most consistent team of the IPL is no exception to this.

StumpsandBails brings to you 4 players who we believe CSK should have never released.

#4 Vijay Shankar

Not many would be aware of the fact that Vijay Shankar represented CSK in 2014. Shankar didn’t get enough opportunities to play for the yellow brigade. His moment under the sun in IPL came in 2018 when he plied his trades for Delhi Daredevils. Shankar is now an integral member of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad since 2019. Chennai Super Kings always looks for an allrounder but they couldn’t retain one when they had.

#3 Jason Holder

Jason Holder, the tall lanky allrounder was part of the CSK setup. But Holder didn’t get many opportunities to impress the franchisee. CSK released him after a solitary year in 2013. Since Bravo was a big part of CSK and mirrored what Holder could do, CSK didn’t consider retaining Holder. But Holder is one of the world’s leading all-rounder currently. He has become one of SRH’s lynchpins.

#2 Chris Morris

Chris Morris made his IPL debut in 2013. He had more than a decent first season with CSK wherein he picked up 16 wickets. But post-2013, Morris was overlooked in CSK and he soon found a home in Delhi Daredevils. He was among the 3 players whom Delhi Daredevils retained in 2018. Morris represented Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2020. He had wonderful seasons with both DC and RCB. Morris became the most expensive player ever brought in an IPL auction when Rajasthan Royals purchased his services for INR 16.25 crores. A hard-hitting lower-order allrounder is worth its weight in gold. CSK missed out on one.

#1 Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin was one of the key players of CSK. He was instrumental in CSK winning 2 successive titles (2010 and 2011). Ashwin was synonymous with CSK. He made his way into the Indian team thanks to his IPL exploits with CSK. But in 2018, CSK couldn’t fight off the competition with Punjab Kings for Ashwin’s services. The Punjab franchise bought him for INR 7.6 crores. CSK should ideally have fought harder for this gem of a player