The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) might be lucky at the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. The BCCI is thinking about bringing back an old policy that would allow the former CSK skipper to play at least one more season. When the IPL started in 2008, a policy was in place by which any player who hasn’t played international cricket in the last 5 years would be considered an ‘uncapped’ player.
BCCI to help CSK & Dhoni?
It wasn’t put to use by any franchise, and in 2021, the IPL decided to do away with it. Knowing about it, the CSK suggested that the old policy be brought back to use it to their advantage. But they were met with pushback. Most franchises didn’t agree with it at the meeting between the IPL owners and the BCCI office-bearers, with Sunrisers Hyderabad owner Kavya Maran calling it ‘disrespectful’.
But the BCCI might be interested in bringing it back. “There is a bright possibility of the rule coming back. It was discussed at length during the meeting last month and could well be brought back when the player regulations are announced,” a source told News18.
As of now, Dhoni plays as a capped player and was retained for INR 12 crore by CSK ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. If the wicketkeeper batter is considered an ‘uncapped’ player, it would allow CSK to retain Dhoni for a maximum of INR 4 crore, saving them a crucial INR 8 crore.
MS Dhoni, not leaving CSK
However, not all hinges on the purse. Recently, Dhoni talked about his future with CSK owner N Srinivasan. According to the current IPL mega auction rules, the franchises can retain just four players. If this remains the case, we could very well have seen the end of Dhoni as a player and instead see him turn into a mentor for the franchise. But, if the number of retentions is five or more, he might play at least one more season.
