Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have provided a key update on their plans for Mahendra Singh Dhoni ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. With Dhoni having retired from international cricket in 2019, he is now eligible to be retained as an uncapped player under the new IPL retention rules announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). These rules allow teams to retain Indian players who haven’t played for the national team or held a central contract for the last five years at a lower cost.
According to the IPL guidelines, “A capped Indian player will be considered uncapped if, in the five calendar years preceding the relevant season, they have not played in the starting XI of an international match (Test, ODI, or T20I) or do not have a Central Contract with the BCCI.” Dhoni’s last international appearance was in 2019, making him eligible for retention as an uncapped player for a price of INR 4 crore.
However, in a recent statement, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan revealed that the team is still undecided on whether to use this retention option for Dhoni. “We are not sure at this point. We might not even use the uncapped player retention card for MS Dhoni. It’s too early to comment because we haven’t had discussions with him yet,” Viswanathan said in an interview with the Times of India.
The decision regarding Dhoni’s retention is expected to involve significant consideration, as the legendary wicketkeeper-batter remains an integral figure for CSK, both as a player and leader. However, it appears that Dhoni himself will have the final say on his future with the franchise.
While the potential of retaining Dhoni at a lower cost could offer CSK financial flexibility in building their squad, the franchise’s hesitation suggests they value the former Indian captain far beyond just his market price. The IPL community now eagerly awaits further developments on this matter, which could play a pivotal role in shaping CSK’s strategy for the next season.
