Chennai Super Kings Can Retain MS Dhoni as Uncapped Player Under Revived IPL Rule
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has reinstated a rule that allows Indian players who have retired from international cricket for at least five years to enter the auction as uncapped players. This rule, which was initially implemented in 2008 but scrapped in 2021, has opened up the possibility for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to retain their former captain and talisman, MS Dhoni, as an uncapped player.
According to the retention rules shared with franchises, an Indian player who has not played in the starting XI of an international match or does not have a central contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for five years preceding the relevant season will be considered uncapped. This rule applies exclusively to Indian players.
Ahead of the 2022 mega auction, CSK retained Dhoni as their second player for INR 12 crore. However, if they choose to retain him as an uncapped player, his salary would be reduced to INR 4 crore.
Dhoni, who turned 43 in July, has only played in the IPL since retiring from international cricket in 2020. His future as a player has been the subject of speculation in recent seasons, especially after he underwent knee surgery in 2023 and handed over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024.
At a recent event, Dhoni indicated that he and CSK would wait for the finalization of the player retention rules before making a decision on his future as a player. The revived rule could provide CSK with a cost-effective way to retain their iconic captain and extend his playing career.
