End of MS Dhoni in IPL? CSK Uncertain About Retaining Thala Under New Rules
With the new IPL 2025 retention rules, MS Dhoni is classified as an uncapped player. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) now face a major decision on whether to retain their legendary captain. CSK's CEO Kasi Viswanathan discusses Dhoni's uncertain future, leaving fans wondering if this is the end of Dhoni's IPL journey.
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Is MS Dhoni's IPL Career Coming to an End? CSK Uncertain About Using Uncapped Retention for Thala
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently released the retention rules for the 2025 IPL season, and one key regulation holds significant implications for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The new rule states that any player who hasn’t represented India in the last five years will be classified as "uncapped." This change would allow franchises to retain such players for a reduced fee before the auction. One notable player affected by this rule is former India captain MS Dhoni, giving CSK the option to retain him for ₹4 crore.
However, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan shared a surprising statement about Dhoni’s potential future in the IPL, saying that the team may not use the uncapped retention rule for their iconic leader.
Speaking in an interview with Times of India, Viswanathan explained, “We are unsure at this point. We might not even apply this rule for MS Dhoni. It's too early to decide because we haven't discussed this with him yet. Dhoni was in the US, and we haven't had the opportunity to talk. I’ll be traveling this week, so discussions could happen soon. Hopefully, we’ll gain clarity, but ultimately, the decision will be Dhoni’s to make."
MS Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020, with his last match for India being the infamous 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. The new retention rule from the IPL clarifies that a capped Indian player will be reclassified as uncapped if they have not played for India in the last five years or do not hold a central contract with the BCCI.
The big question now is whether this new regulation will mark the end of Dhoni’s IPL journey or if the beloved captain will continue leading CSK for another season.
