The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly considering returning an old rule that would allow former India captain MS Dhoni to be treated as an ‘uncapped’ player.
This move, if implemented, would greatly benefit Dhoni’s current franchise, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
The rule in question was in place since the inaugural IPL season in 2008, where players who had retired from international cricket for at least five years were categorized as uncapped players.
However, this rule was later discontinued in 2021. Now, according to multiple reports, the BCCI is contemplating reviving this regulation, which could have major implications for Dhoni’s future with CSK.
Potential Benefits for CSK
If the BCCI does reinstate the ‘uncapped player’ rule, it would mean that Dhoni, who last played for India in the 2019 World Cup semifinal and announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020, would be eligible for the ‘uncapped’ category in the IPL 2025 auction.
This would be a significant advantage for CSK, as it would allow them to retain Dhoni for a maximum of INR 4 crore, as per the current retention rules for uncapped players. In contrast, CSK had retained Dhoni for INR 12 crore ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction.
CSK’s Push for the Rule Change
The CSK management has been actively advocating for the revival of this rule during recent meetings between IPL franchise owners and BCCI officials.
However, this proposal has not been unanimously accepted, with some franchises, such as Sunrisers Hyderabad, expressing concerns about the fairness of the move.
“There is a bright possibility of the rule coming back. It was discussed at length during the meeting last month and could well be brought back when the player regulations are announced,” a source told News18.
Dhoni’s Future with CSK
The potential rule change comes at a crucial time for Dhoni’s future with CSK. The current IPL mega auction rules allow franchises to retain just four players, which could have meant the end of Dhoni’s playing career with CSK.
However, if the BCCI increases the number of permitted retentions to five or more, it could pave the way for Dhoni to play at least one more season.
In a recent event in Hyderabad, Dhoni stated that he would wait for the IPL player regulations to be announced before deciding on his future. “There is a lot of time for it. We have to see what decision they take on player retention etc. Right now, the ball is not in our court. So, once the rules and regulations get formalised, I will take a call, but it needs to be in the best interest of the team,” he said.
