Having last played for India in the 2019, Dhoni fulfils the criteria to be retained as uncapped player.
October 31 is the deadline for the IPL franchises to announce their retentions ahead of the upcoming mega auction. As per the BCCI guidelines, each of the 10 IPL teams can retain up to six cricketers, through the retention and Right To Match (RTM) option.
These six retentions/RTMs can consist of a maximum of five capped players (both Indian and overseas) and up to two uncapped players.
Meanwhile, a report published in ESPNCricinfo claims that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have finalized their five retentions.
The retention list is headlined by the legendary MS Dhoni, alongside skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, swashbuckling left-hander Shivam Dube, and Sri Lankan pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana.
Although the exact salaries for retained players have not been revealed, the franchise is set to allocate a substantial portion of their purse. By retaining five players, CSK will subtract at least INR 65 crore from their overall purse of INR 120 crore.
The five-time champions now will have INR 55 crore left in their kitty for the next month’s grand auction, where they can use the Right To Match (RTM) option to retain a removed player.
CSK will reportedly use the uncapped player rule to retain the services of Dhoni for only INR 4 crore. Having last played for India in the 2019 World Cup, the 43-year-old fulfils this criteria.
Speaking at an event last week, MS Dhoni said he wants to enjoy the “last few years of cricket” at a relaxed pace. His comments sparked speculation that CSK might retain him for IPL 2025 even though he passed the leadership baton to Gaikwad last season.
"I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I am able to play. In our childhood, we used to go out to play at 4 pm and enjoy the game. But when you play a professional sport, it becomes difficult to enjoy cricket, just like a game. That's what I want to do,” Dhoni said.
(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)