CSK could get their wish of retaining Dhoni as uncapped player: Report

The old retention rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which allowed franchises to retain or buy players retired from international cricket for at least five years as uncapped players, is likely to be back ahead of the 2025 edition of the IPL. 

According to News 18, it was discussed extensively in the last meeting between the franchise owners and the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), and there’s a “bright possibility” of its return. 

“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 high-placed source within the BCCI told News 18. 

If this rule change goes through, then Chennai Super Kings (CSK) might be able to retain skipper MS Dhoni for just INR 4 crore, which is what an uncapped player would cost under the rule. CSK won’t have to empty their pockets to get the former Indian captain then. 

Notably, this retention rule has been in place since the beginning of the IPL in 2008 and was scrapped recently in 2021 because teams never used it. 

Dhoni, who was retained for 12 crore by CSK in the last auction, played the entire season of IPL 2024 and scored 161 runs at a stellar strike rate of 220.55. Earlier in a function in Hyderabad, Dhoni mentioned waiting for the new regulations to be announced before taking a call on his further participation in the richest cricket league in the world. 

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