As Chennai Super Kings (CSK) prepares for the IPL 2025 mega auction, a significant change in retention rules could pave the way for the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni to continue as captain. Dubbed “Thala” by his devoted fans, Dhoni’s potential retention as an uncapped player has sparked discussions among cricket enthusiasts about his future with the franchise.
New Rules Explained
The revised IPL retention guidelines stipulate that players who have been retired from international cricket for five years or more will be classified as uncapped. This change means that Dhoni, who stepped away from international cricket in few years back, fits the criteria to be retained by CSK without affecting their capped player slots.
This isn’t the first time such provisions have been in place. A similar rule was introduced during the inaugural IPL season in 2008, allowing Indian players who had been out of international cricket for five years to be classified as uncapped. However, this rule was scrapped in 2021. The recent amendment marks a return to these previous guidelines, giving teams like CSK more flexibility.
Dhoni’s Future with CSK
Dhoni has hinted at evaluating his future based on the new retention landscape, keeping fans guessing about his next move. If CSK chooses to retain him, he would receive a retainership fee of Rs 4 crore as an uncapped player, allowing the franchise to keep their iconic leader without straining their budget.
The Captain’s Recent Journey
Since retiring from international duties, Dhoni has continued to play exclusively in the IPL. He was retained ahead of the IPL 2021 mega auction and briefly handed over captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja in IPL 2022, only to reclaim the role amid challenging team performances.
As CSK navigates the new retention rules, fans remain optimistic about seeing MS Dhoni back in action for IPL 2025, leading the team that holds a special place in his heart and theirs.