Legendary cricketer MS Dhoni is likely to be shortlisted by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for retention ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. The other reported retentions are Shivam Dube and Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana.
The CSK shortlist reportedly includes captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja as well, along with Dhoni, Dube, and Pathirana, RevSportz reported.
CSK's ultimate roster, however, will be determined by the BCCI's retention criteria for the second IPL mega auction in three years.
Dhoni may potentially play one more season for the team he managed from the first edition in 2008 until 2023, except for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, when the franchise was suspended alongside the Rajasthan Royals owing to corruption.
According to the source, Dhoni is unlikely to receive a significant portion of the franchise's purse for the mega auction and will be listed at the lowest retention value or as an uncapped player.
This can happen as reports have indicated that BCCI is likely to bring the old rule back that allowed players who have been retired from international cricket for more than five years, to be retained as uncapped players.
The 43-year-old was generally expected to make his final appearance in a yellow jersey after helping CSK to their fifth title in 2023 by defeating trophy holders Gujarat Titans in the final in Ahmedabad.
Dhoni elected to play the 17th season of the world's biggest T20 league but revealed his decision to step down as captain on the eve of the season opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Owing to injury concerns as Dhoni played with a knee injury in IPL 2023 and then suffered a calf injury in IPL 2024, he has batted lower down the order in the last two seasons, restricting his time at the middle to brief but explosive appearances.
Though he is as athletic as ever behind the stumps, Dhoni has reduced his rushing between the wickets, preferring to score rapid runs with fours and sixes.
Ravindra Jadeja has been a mainstay for CSK since IPL 2012 and even captained CSK in IPL 2022 before handing the captaincy back to Dhoni. Ruturaj Gaikwad is a sure retention, given he is the captain of the franchise and their main batter.
Shivam Dube has been at his explosive best in the CSK middle order with 418 and 396 runs in the last two IPL seasons.
Matheesha Pathirana, on the other hand, has been groomed by MS Dhoni as a killer death-over bowler. The improved Sri Lanka speedster took 19 and 13 wickets in the last two IPL seasons.
(RevSportz inputs)
