CSK Planning to Retain MS Dhoni for Just Rs 4 Crore in IPL 2025: Here’s How the Five-time Champions Can Make it Happen

New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings, the five-time champions, have the option to retain MS Dhoni for a significantly reduced price for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), which is sure to delight fans. This news comes as a result of the IPL Player Retention rules, which state that any player who has been retired from international cricket for more than five years will be considered as an uncapped player.

The two-time World Cup former India captain announced his international retirement on August 15, 2020, and has completed five years post-retirement. That means the five-time IPL-winning captain will not cost too heavily for the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side. As per the last IPL retention rules, an uncapped player could be retained for Rs 4 crores. In 2022, Dhoni was retained for Rs 12 crores.

Meanwhile, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan revealed that the BCCI has told the franchise that the ‘uncapped player rule’ is likely to exist. “I’ve no idea about it. We’ve not requested for it. They (the BCCI) have themselves told us that the ‘uncapped player rule’ may be kept, that’s all. They (the BCCI) haven’t announced anything as yet. The rules and regulations will be announced by the BCCI,” Viswanathan was quoted as saying to the TOI.

For the unknown, it was CSK who had asked for the ‘rule’ to be kept during July 31 meeting between IPL owners and the BCCI. Dhoni’s last match in an Indian jersey was during the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal against New Zealand where the Men in Blue lost. Earlier, just a day before IPL 2024, Dhoni handed over the CSK captaincy to Gaikwad. Arriving to bat only at death, the 43-year-old Dhoni scored 161 runs in just 73 balls at a strike-rate of 220.54, and average of 53.66.

Speaking about his future, Dhoni had stated that he would wait till the IPL player regulations for the 2025 season is out. “There is a lot of time for it. We have to see what decision they take on player retention etc. Right now, the ball is not in our court. So, once the rules and regulations get formalised, I will take a call, but it needs to be in the best interest of the team,” Dhoni had said at a promotional event in Hyderabad.