Former Indian batter Subramanian Badrinath slammed Chennai Super Kings management after they decided to release star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja ahead of IPL 2026. Jadeja, along with Sam Curran, was traded to Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Sanju Samson.
Jadeja has scored 190 runs in eight innings at an average of 47.50 and a strike rate of 133.80 in the ongoing season. Furthermore, the left-arm orthodox spinner has scalped nine wickets in 11 innings at an average of 25.50 and an impressive economy rate of 7.84.
Badrinath said on his YouTube Channel, “They retained Ravindra Jadeja for 18 crores. If you retain a player in the mega auction for such a huge amount, it means you are confident he’ll be there for three years. Yet, you changed your mind in the second year itself. You were compelled to trade him for Sanju Samson through your own doing. There itself, you’ve not followed the process.”
The former CSK also questioned the franchise’s process of retaining injury-prone Matheesha Pathirana ahead of the 2025 mega auction.
“You retained Matheesha Pathirana for 12 crores. This while knowing he can never last a full season. Even a person walking on the road will know Pathirana is injury-prone. Now, KKR is suffering the same fate with him. Is this your process, making you retain Pathirana?,” he added.
Badrinath reckons it has become easier to bowl at Shivam Dube. The left-hander hasn’t delivered in the ongoing season, scoring 223 runs in 11 innings at an average of 37.17 and a strike rate of 145.75.
“Shivam Dube is the one you’ve stuck with after investing big. But it hasn’t worked out as all bowlers have sorted out Dube. It has become easy to bowl to him, and so it’s safe to say that hasn’t worked out as well,” said Badrinath (via the aforementioned source).
The former right-hander said CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s retention hasn’t also worked well for the five-time champions.
“Next is Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was injured almost the entire last season. His captaincy has been questionable throughout, and this season, he has been woeful with the bat too, which has further affected his captaincy,” stated Badrinath.
CSK will play their last league stage match against GT at Ahmedabad on Thursday.
