Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has retained five key players ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 auction, including captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, and the legendary MS Dhoni. Dhoni’s retention at a modest price of INR 4 crore has sparked discussions among fans and experts.
The new IPL rule classifies players who have not represented India in the past five years as “uncapped.” This rule has drawn criticism from former India cricketers Mohammad Kaif and Sanjay Manjrekar.
Kaif believes that CSK has cleverly exploited the rule to save money and acquire big-name players at the auction. He argues that Dhoni, despite his age and lack of recent international appearances, should not be considered uncapped due to his exceptional IPL performances.
Manjrekar echoed Kaif’s sentiments, stating that the rule has been reintroduced solely to accommodate Dhoni’s return. He humorously pointed out that even Kaif and himself would now be considered uncapped players under this rule.
The retention of Dhoni has been a major talking point, with fans and experts debating the value of his experience and leadership. Some argue that his presence is invaluable to CSK, while others question whether he can still perform at the highest level.
Despite the controversy surrounding the uncapped rule, CSK’s retention strategy has been praised by many. The team has managed to retain its core players while also freeing up funds to acquire new talent at the auction.
The IPL 2025 auction is expected to be highly competitive, with several teams looking to strengthen their squads. CSK’s shrewd retention strategy has positioned them well to compete for the title once again.
