IPL2025: MS Dhoni and CSK will profit as the BCCI is likely to reinstate the previous retention policy

CSK could have kept Dhoni as an uncapped player for a much less money if the retention rule had been in place.

When the player retention regulations are announced ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2019, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to reinstate the rule that places players who have retired from international cricket for a minimum of five years in the uncapped category.

Since it was never used, the rule—which had been in effect since the first season in 2008—was eliminated in 2021. Nevertheless, the management of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) apparently pushed for the rule’s reinstatement during the meeting between IPL club owners and BCCI last month.

Although it is acknowledged that other franchises didn’t seem to agree with CSK’s proposal on July 31, the BCCI is seriously considering bringing it back.

Should the regulation be reinstated, the Chennai-based team will be able to keep the majority of their capped core as well as their previous captain, MS Dhoni, as an uncapped player.

“There’s a good chance the regulation will return. It was thoroughly discussed at the meeting last month and might be brought up again when the player regulations are revealed, News18 cited a reliable source as saying.

A team would only have to pay INR 4 crore for an uncapped player under the former retention rule. Dhoni may be able to play for CSK going forward without significantly depleting their salary ceiling thanks to this. For INR 12 crore, CSK had acquired Dhoni ahead of the 2022 major auctions.

Dhoni gave up the captaincy ahead of the 2024 Indian Premier League, giving it to the gifted Ruturaj Gaikwad. The Men in Yellow finished fifth in the standings and just missed out on a postseason berth. The former captain of India had some incredible cameos while batting lower in the order. With a season total of 161 runs from just 73 balls and an impressive strike-rate of 220.55, he was quite successful.

Also Read: MS Dhoni’s status as an uncapped player is explained by Ravichandran Ashwin: “He is not a capped player.”

Since Dhoni is regarded as the greatest Indian cricket player of all time, his supporters will be thrilled to see him return to the lucrative league in 2025.