"These 3 are perfect for them" - Ajay Jadeja on CSK's potential retentions ahead of IPL 2025 Auction

Ajay Jadeja reckons MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja will be the Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) ideal retentions ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. He feels Matheesha Pathirana could be the only overseas player the Chennai-based franchise might want to retain.

The IPL Governing Council has announced that an Indian player who hasn't represented the country in the last five years will be considered uncapped. The decision will allow CSK to retain Dhoni for ₹4 crore.

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Ajay Jadeja named MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja as the three players CSK would surely look to retain.

"One is MS Dhoni for sure. There is no doubt about that because firstly he has become an uncapped player now and he has shown for so many years that he doesn't desire to be No. 1 or No. 2 to make the team. So there is no doubt at that value," he said.

"Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had a good year, so you will want to keep him as well. You cannot leave Ravindra, I am not talking about Rachin, I am talking about Jadeja. I feel these three are perfect for them," the former India captain added.

Dhoni smashed 161 runs at an average of 53.67 and a strike rate of 220.54 in 11 innings in IPL 2024. Gaikwad was CSK's highest run-scorer this season, amassing 583 runs at an average of 53.00 and a strike rate of 141.16 in 14 innings.

Jadeja aggregated 267 runs at an average of 44.50 and a strike rate of 142.78 in 11 innings. The spin-bowling all-rounder also picked up eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.85 in 14 innings.

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"I don't see any other player who they won't get back because this is a big auction" - Ajay Jadeja on CSK's other potential retentions

In the same discussion, Ajay Jadeja opined that the Chennai Super Kings can reacquire any other players they wish to keep at the auction.

"I don't see any other player who they won't get back because this is a big auction. The small auction remains in your mind, the amount Mitchell Starc got, and the entire world was running after him. If the team is already prepared, and money is left, they are spent differently. When the teams are getting built, even names in the first round go unsold at times and come back again," he reasoned.

The cricketer-turned-commentator concluded by naming Matheesha Pathirana as an overseas player CSK might not want to release.

"So if a team wants to change their style, the fewer you retain, it's better. So these three according to me will be retained for sure. You would not want to leave Pathirana. I am seeing him as one among the overseas players. You need to keep players not because of the money, but their style. So I feel these four will be their main players and they will keep two RTMs," Jadeja observed.

Pathirana picked up 13 wickets at an economy rate of 7.68 in just six innings in IPL 2024. Only Tushar Deshpande (17) and Mustafizur Rahman (14) accounted for more dismissals than him for the five-time champions this season.