CSK Picks A Grey Area To Include MS Dhoni In IPL 2025

Things are getting really interesting regarding the ongoing gossips about the number of retentions to be allowed for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025 season). However, the biggest update is still very much under the suspicion whether the fans will get to see MS Dhoni playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2025 season or not. Under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs during the previous edition of the cash-rich T20 league. While talking about IPL 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has heard all the suggestion from the 10 IPL franchise owners and will be taking a final call regarding the number of player retentions. 

What is CSK's grey area to include MS Dhoni in IPL 2025?

During the recent BCCI meeting with all the ten IPL franchise owners, the Chennai Super Kings brought forward a certain rule change that could work in their favour to include MS Dhoni as an uncapped player in the Indian Premier League 2025 season. Majority of the IPL team owners present in the meeting were quiet shocked after hearing this proposal. Incidentally, before 2021, there was a rule that suggested any player who has retired from international cricketer for five or more years will be considered under the uncapped category. However, this rule was later scrapped by the IPL Governing Council on the request of the franchises and now, the Chennai Super Kings have once again sparked the debate. 

Interestingly, MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on 15 August, 2020 and therefore, according to the above rule suggest by Chennai Super Kings, five years will be completed on 15 August, 2025. Thus, even if the BCCI and IPL Governing Council reintroduce this rule, it won't be of any benefit for CSK as the former Indian captain will not fall under the category of an uncapped player. On the other, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) team owner Kavya Maran stated that allowing the retired players to be categorised as uncapped will not set a good precedent and will be a disrespect to their status. 

All the other teams agreed with the SRH owner and voted against Chennai Super Kings' proposal. According to reports, the BCCI is set to take the final call against this rule and all the former cricketers will not be considered as uncapped players regardless of their retirement span. This discussion also came into the picture after some of the franchises insisted on increase in the number of uncapped player retentions ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction in order to nurture them well. According to sources, the IPL Governing Council will be allowing a maximum of 5-6 player retentions for the IPL 2025 season.