CSK To Retain MS Dhoni As 'Uncapped Player' Before IPL 2025 Mega Auction
MS Dhoni to be retained as uncapped player [Source: @ChennaiIPL/x.com]
Former Indian captain MS Dhoni is set to be retained by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise as an ‘uncapped’ player for the IPL 2025 season. In a major revamp, as confirmed by ESPNCricinfo, the IPL governing council has decided to bring back a rule from 2008, which would allow Indian players who played their last international match at least five years prior to head into an auction as an uncapped cricketer.
While MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket in mid-2020, he played the last of his 538 matches for Team India back in July 2019 at the 2019 ODI World Cup.
MS Dhoni to play IPL 2025 under a new guise
MS Dhoni will likely play the IPL 2025 season as an ‘uncapped player’ for the CSK franchise. As per recent retentions policies involving the IPL 2025 mega auction, Indian players who played their last international match at least five years prior will head into the auction as ‘uncapped’ cricketers.
The IPL 2025 mega auction is set to be organized in either late November or early December later this year. Each franchise will be allowed to retain up to five players, with no restrictions over the selection of the number of Indian and overseas cricketers.
MS Dhoni, meanwhile, relinquished his age-old captaincy responsibility for the CSK franchise earlier this year in favor of rising star Ruturaj Gaikwad. Moreover, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter also faced only 73 deliveries throughout the IPL 2024 season.
In other update, while CSK can retain MS Dhoni as an ‘uncapped player’, the cricketer himself is yet to confirm his availability for IPL 2025. The former Indian captain, aged 43 at the moment, might well return to the fold for one more season for his fans.