Yes, you read the headline right! Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will have a golden chance in their hands come into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. After the IPL GC, held earlier today, office-bearers have decided that IPL franchises can retain as many as six retentions. However, among those six retentions, one has to be an uncapped player. And that is where the IPL governing members have brought a unique rule to the fore.
Dhoni now an uncapped player for CSK?
As per the media release by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, IPL has reintroduced a previous rule that allowed Indian players, who had retired from international at least five years prior, to go into the auction as an uncapped players. As we all know, in the case of MS Dhoni, he stopped playing for India on August 15, 2020 (the heartbreaking semi-final exit at the 2019 ODI World Cup). And, according to the retention policy, an uncapped player who is retained by the franchise, would only cost them Rs 4 crore.
Catch all new IPL 2025 retention rules below:
It is pertinent to note that this ‘uncapped’ rule was never exercised and thus was scrapped in 2021. However, the franchises and IPL GC members have mutually decided to bring back this rule. MS Dhoni currently earns Rs 12 crore per season, after he was the second-choice retention for CSK after Ravindra Jadeja (Rs 16 cr) before the IPL 2022 mega auction.
CSK previously also mentioned that MS Dhoni will take a call on his availability for IPL 2025 after the retention rules. Now that franchises know all the permutations and combinations, the ball is on CSK’s court.