The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to X to announce the IPL 2025 retention rules.
All 10 teams are allowed to retain up to six players, including one uncapped player. However, a new twist has been added to the uncapped player rule.
“A capped Indian player will become uncapped if, in the last five calendar years preceding the relevant season, they haven’t played in the starting XI in international cricket (Test, ODI, or T20) or do not have a central contract with BCCI. This applies only to Indian players,” stated the rule.
This regulation classifies former India captain MS Dhoni as an uncapped player, enabling Chennai Super Kings to retain him for ₹4 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Following the announcement, it seems likely that Dhoni will play in the next IPL season.
A day after the retention rules were revealed, a video featuring Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, went viral.
In the video, during an award show, director Karan Johar teases Shah Rukh about retiring, to which Shah Rukh uses Dhoni as an example.
“The biggest thing about legends… unki khasiyat ye hoti hai ki legends know when to stop, when to retire. Like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Chhetri, and Roger Federer. They all know when to retire. So maybe it’s time you do too,” Shah Rukh said.
Johar responded, “By that standard, why haven’t you retired yet?”
Shah Rukh humorously replied, “Actually, I’m a different kind of legend. Dhoni and I are the same—na na kar ke bhi 10 baar IPL khel jaate hai.”
Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal, also at the event, added, “Retirement is for legends. Kings are forever.”