MS Dhoni to be Treated as ‘Uncapped’ Player in IPL 2025
The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has announced significant rule changes for the 2025-27 cycle, including a new uncapped player rule that could pave the way for legendary cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni to continue playing in the tournament.
According to the new rule, an Indian player who has represented the national team but has not played in any international match for five calendar years will be reclassified as an uncapped player. Dhoni, who last played for India in the 2019 World Cup, will now be eligible to be retained by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as an uncapped player in the 2025 IPL.
This rule change gives CSK a chance to keep Dhoni in their squad without having to use one of their limited retention slots. Franchises can now retain up to six players from their existing squad, with a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players.
In addition to the uncapped player rule, the IPL Governing Council also increased the auction purse for franchises to Rs 120 crore for the 2025 season. The total salary cap will now consist of the auction purse, incremental performance pay, and match fees.
Other key decisions taken by the Governing Council include:
* A match fee of Rs 7.5 lakhs per match will be introduced for all playing members, including the Impact Player.
* Overseas players must register for the Big Auction and will be ineligible to participate in the following year’s auction if they do not register.
* Players who make themselves unavailable after being picked in the auction will be banned from participating in the tournament and player auction for two seasons.
These rule changes are expected to have a significant impact on the IPL, giving franchises more flexibility in retaining players and potentially allowing Dhoni to continue his illustrious career in the tournament.
