Dhoni set to be “uncapped” player courtesy of rule change ahead of the IPL mega auction in November-December.
Dhoni is all set to be retained by CSK as an “Uncapped” player.
This is due to the Indian Premier League’s decision to reinstate a 2008-era regulation that permitted Indian players who had retired from international cricket at least five years prior to the relevant season to be auctioned off as uncapped players. In 2021, the rule was repealed. But the IPL told the franchises it was bringing back the rule during the general conversation about uncapped players.
In the document listing the retention rules shared with franchises, the IPL said this rule would only be applicable for Indians: “A capped Indian player will become uncapped if he has in the five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant season is held, not played in the starting XI in international cricket or does not have a central contract with BCCI. This will be applicable for Indian players only.”
CSK paid INR 12 crore to keep Dhoni as their second player ahead of the 2022 super auction. Since retiring in 2020, Dhoni, who turned 43 in July, has only participated in the Indian Premier League. Dhoni will get INR 4 crore if CSK choose to keep him as an uncapped player.
Over the past few seasons, there has been discussion whether or not Dhoni will continue in the Indian Premier League. Following knee surgery in 2023, he gave Ruturaj Gaikwad the captaincy of CSK ahead of the 2024 Indian Premier League. He had a minor impact at bat, entering the game late in the innings to hit boundaries. More recently, Dhoni stated that before deciding on his playing future, he and CSK would wait for the player retention regulations to be established.