The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been handed a significant advantage with the return of the uncapped player rule, as they look to retain one of the most iconic players in cricket history, MS Dhoni, ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. It would be a game-changer and a masterstroke for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), as the five-time IPL champions can now hold onto their legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni for a mere Rs 12 crores across three seasons for his priceless contribution to the team both on and off the field.
There is a great deal of demand for MS Dhoni to stay with CSK, as supporters strongly desire that the team keep him. There is a clear buzz about the next season. Fans are anticipating the arrival of their favorite players with great fervor as the IPL 2025 draws near.
CSK set for major boost as uncapped player rule could secure MS Dhoni for just INR 4 crores ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction
MS Dhoni, the face of CSK since the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008, has been the backbone of the franchise and played a key role in their success, captaining them to five titles and making them the joint-most successful franchise in the league alongside Mumbai Indians (MI).
The uncapped player rule means that MS Dhoni qualifies as an uncapped player, as he has already retired from the game and doesn’t have any contract with the BCCI. This allows CSK to retain their former captain at a very low cost as compared to his stature, providing them with not only a financial advantage but also freeing up vital retention spots for other key players.
Tom Moody opens up on rule that makes MS Dhoni an uncapped player in the IPL 2025
Former Australian all-rounder and ex-Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody has backed the rule as per which MS Dhoni will be considered as an uncapped player in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Describing the rule as a great one, he in fact went one step ahead and opined that the present five-year window for Indian players to be considered uncapped should be brought down to three years.
After much suspense, the BCCI announced the IPL player regulations for the period 2025 to 2027 on September 28. One of rules confirmed that, ‘A capped Indian player will become uncapped, if the player has in the last five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant Season is held, not played in the starting XI in International Cricket (Test match, ODI, Twenty20 International) or does not have a Central Contract with BCCI.’
There has been mixed response to bring back the rule which existed since the start of the IPL, but was scrapped in 2021 since it was never used by any of the franchises. Some fans and critics reckon that the regulation has been brought back only for Dhoni.
Moody, however, is in favor of the rule making a comeback. Speaking on ESPN Cricinfo, he opined that legends like Dhoni playing in the IPL as long as they can perform can only be good for the T20 League. The 59-year-old commented (as quoted by The Times of India):
“I think it’s a great rule. I think it allows, if you are good enough and you have got longevity, it allows a player to continue to play on the big stage and perform and have some sort of role; without them, I suppose, you are making it difficult, from a price perspective, to retain those players because they might be the identity, or in Dhoni’s case, certainly he is the identity of CSK.
“So, I don’t think that’s an issue at all. I think the longer the likes of iconic players like Dhoni can play in the IPL and can physically deliver like he has been, it’s good for the tournament,” the former Australian all-rounder added.
The ex-SRH coach further opined that the time frame of five years to be eligible as uncapped should be brought down to three years.
“I personally think five years is a long time; I would like to see it as a three-year window. Once a player has played his last international game, I think if you are out of international cricket or you haven’t been considered to play for India over that three-year window, you should be given the right of passage to be able to come in at that four-crow level,” Moody stated.
Apart from Dhoni, the likes of Piyush Chawla, Amit Mishra, Sandeep Sharma and Mohit Sharma will also fall in the uncapped category in the wake of the regulations announced for the upcoming IPL.
There is still no confirmation on whether Dhoni will play for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025. If he indeed decides to return to the T20 league for yet another year, the 43-year-old legend can be retained by CSK as an uncapped player for ₹4 crore. The former India captain last represented India in international cricket during the 2019 ODI World Cup. He officially announced his retirement in August 2020.