The most asked question regarding the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction was, “Will MS Dhoni play in IPL 2025?” The answer is yes. With the announcement of the retention rules, the uncapped players’ provision has made it possible for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to retain their most beloved cricketer, Dhoni.
Apart from ‘Thala,’ let’s discuss who their retained players might be and whom they will choose for retention slots one, two, and three.
Players CSK could retain ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction
| Retention | Player | Price | Current Price |
| Retention 1 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | 18 crore | 6 crore |
| Retention 2 | Ravindra Jadeja | 14 crore | 16 crore |
| Retention 3 | Matheesha Pathirana | 11 crore | 20 Lakhs |
| uncapped player | MS Dhoni | 4 crore | 12 crore |
Ruturaj Gaikwad
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is expected to be the first player retained by the franchise. He was appointed captain just before the start of the IPL 2024 season, taking over the responsibilities from MS Dhoni. Although CSK did not qualify for the playoffs last season, Ruturaj remains an integral part of their long-term strategy.
Ravindra Jadeja
CSK veteran Jadeja will be their second choice for retention. The minimum amount for the second retention is 14 crore; however, Jadeja currently earns 16 crore. It will be interesting to see whether CSK decides to retain him for 14 crore or offers him a higher salary.
Matheesha Pathirana
Sri Lanka’s pacer Matheesha Pathirana will be their third retention at 11 crore. This represents a significant pay increase for him, as he was previously signed for just 20 lakhs. In IPL 2024, he played only six matches, taking 12 wickets before being ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
MS Dhoni
Last but not least, Dhoni will also be included in the retention list, as he will be retained as an uncapped player in IPL 2025. However, this will result in a pay cut for him, as he will now be paid 4 crores compared to the 12 crores he received in IPL 2024.
