Dhoni likely to be treated as ‘uncapped player’ for auction

Mumbai: In a development which should be music to the ears of the Chennai Super Kings management, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to put MS Dhoni in the category of uncapped players when it announces the player regulations ahead of the 2025 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), TOI has learnt.The BCCI will thus go back to its rule, which has been in place since the inaugural IPL season, according to which, players who have retired from international cricket for at least five years were put in the uncapped category. It means that retaining Dhoni, a legendary former India and CSK captain, will not cost CSK too heavily to. As per the last retention rules, an uncapped player could be retained for Rs 4 crores. CSK had retained Dhoni for Rs 12 crores in 2022.Asked whether Dhoni would be treated as an uncapped player in the 2025 IPL auction, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told TOI: “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.” Apparently, the CSK management pushed for the rule during the meeting between owners of IPL franchises and BCCI on July 31 in Mumbai. Dhoni last played for India in the 2019 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand at Old Trafford in Manchester, and announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020.Before the start of IPL 2024, Dhoni handed over the CSK captaincy to India opener Ruturaj Gaikwad. Arriving to bat only in the death overs, the 43-year-old scored 161 runs in just 73 balls that he faced, at a strike-rate of 220.54, and average of 53.66.At an event in Hyderabad this month, Dhoni said he would wait for the IPL player regulations before taking the call on whether to play another season of the IPL or not. “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.

MS Dhoni likely to be treated as 'uncapped player' for IPL 2025 auction

The BCCI is reportedly planning to categorize Mahendra Singh Dhoni as an uncapped player for the 2025 IPL season, reducing Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) retention cost. Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, may thus be retained for Rs 4 crores. CSK management discussed the rule change with BCCI in July, pending formal regulations announcement.

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