Demand to consider Dhoni as an uncapped player
MS Dhoni retired from all forms of international cricket in August 2020. There has been suspense over Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s future in the Indian Premier League. Over the past few years, questions over Dhoni’s future with Chennai Super Kings have often cropped up at the end of seasons; this year, CSK ushered in a new era when Dhoni handed over the captaincy to opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.
But while Dhoni has remained tight-lipped over his future with the franchise, the Super Kings have reportedly sought the reintroduction of a rule allowing them to retain their star former captain as an uncapped player.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have requested that MS Dhoni be considered an ‘uncapped player’ in the 2025 IPL, following his retirement from international cricket. This unusual move aims to allow CSK to retain Dhoni outside the standard player retention rules, ensuring his continued presence in the team.
CSK emphasizes Dhoni’s unparalleled leadership and influence, which have been pivotal to their success. The franchise hopes this consideration will acknowledge Dhoni’s contribution to the IPL and allow him to continue playing a crucial role in their squad, despite no longer being an active international cricketer.
BCCI meeting with 2025 IPL franchises
During the BCCI’s meeting with IPL franchises to decide the roadmap for the 2025 season, the CSK owners advocated a return to the rule that was in place from the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2008 to 2021. The rule allows international cricketers who have been retired for more than five years to be classified as uncapped players.
Before the 2022 mega auction, teams were allowed to retain a maximum of four players, with uncapped players being restricted to two. In a meeting with the board on Wednesday, several franchises have demanded an increase in the number of players a team can retain. If Dhoni is classified as an uncapped player, CSK will get an additional slot to retain another Indian player, potentially strengthening their squad.
Dhoni retired from all forms of international cricket in August 2020
The proposal has faced a lot of opposition from other franchises. Sunrisers Hyderabad owner Kavya Maran was particularly vocal against the idea, arguing that it would be a disservice to both the player and his market value, which could go even higher if he is included in the auction.
This sentiment is shared by most franchises, who believe that a retired international player should never be considered uncapped. As discussions continue, the IPL governing body is likely to announce the retention rules by the end of August. A decision on whether the next season will take place will also be taken before the mega auction, as some franchises have opposed it.
IPL 2022 mega auction
In the IPL 2022 mega auction, Dhoni was retained by CSK for a total of ₹12 crore, while an uncapped player was retained for ₹8 crore less in the same auction. If CSK manage to bring back the rule, Dhoni could be retained as an uncapped player in IPL 2025, as he retired from international cricket in August 2020.
However, most other franchises are against reintroducing the rule. IPL 2024 finalist Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) owner Kavya Maran found the idea of classifying an iconic cricketer like MS Dhoni as an uncapped player ‘insulting’.
Retired Indian players allowed lower base price
The franchises unanimously agreed that Indian players who have not played international cricket for five years should be allowed to lower their base price in the auction. The suggestion is understood to have come from IPL chief operating officer Hemang Amin, who believes a lower base price will give such players a higher chance of being bought at the auction.
Capped Indian players who have not played international cricket for several years are being forced to enter the auction at a higher base price, and hence are not being bought despite bidding more than once, said a franchise chief.
Remaining IPL owners demand CSK
Notably, Dhoni, who played his last match for India in 2019, retired from international cricket in 2020 when he announced his retirement through an emotional Instagram post.
Furthermore, it has also been revealed that IPL franchise owners like Kavya Maran have hit back against CSK’s demand, saying that “it would be a disrespect to a retired player and his value.
Conclusion
Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020. Ahead of the mega auction that took place ahead of IPL 2022, Dhoni was the second player in CSK’s retention list after Ravindra Jadeja, worth Rs 12 crore from the franchise’s auction purse. An uncapped player retained that year was worth only Rs 4 crore to the team.
If the IPL sets a similar cost for uncapped players retained ahead of the 2025 auction, CSK is believed to be keen on retaining Dhoni through that route. However, several other franchises were not in favour of giving uncapped status to long-retired international players.
