MS Dhoni, fondly known as ‘Thala’, has remained silent regarding his future in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 as a player. While Chennai Super Kings (CSK) confirmed that discussions with Dhoni about his potential retention are yet to take place, reports suggest a meeting is scheduled for mid-October. The IPL Governing Council recently reintroduced a rule allowing retired Indian players (those not involved in international cricket for five years) to be considered as uncapped players.
This rule enables CSK to retain Dhoni as an uncapped player in the INR 4 crore category, providing the franchise with additional funds to strengthen their squad ahead of the auction. According to a Cricbuzz report, Dhoni has returned from his US trip and is expected to meet with CSK officials in the coming weeks to discuss his future.
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Ahead of the mega auction, IPL teams are allowed to retain up to six players from their 2024 squad, including a maximum of five capped players (Indian or overseas) and two uncapped players.
Former cricketer Ajay Jadeja believes Dhoni will undoubtedly be among CSK’s retained players. “MS Dhoni, for sure. There’s no question about his value, especially since he’s now an uncapped player. He’s contributed immensely to the team and doesn’t seek to be the top player anymore.”
Jadeja also mentioned the likelihood of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja being retained. “Ruturaj had a great year as captain, and Jadeja is indispensable. These three, I think, are crucial for CSK,” he said during an appearance on JioCinema.
Ex-India batter Aakash Chopra believes the Right to Match (RTM) card will be beneficial for CSK. “I don’t think they’ll retain five players—probably 3 or 4. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja are worth 18 CR each, so CSK will have to match that. Apart from them, MS Dhoni, Shivam Dube, and Matheesha Pathirana could also be considered.
“I expect CSK to retain Dube and use the RTM card for Deepak Chahar, depending on his fitness. Dube could fetch over 10-11 crores in the auction, so using the RTM card could help CSK secure him for less.”