After much anticipation regarding his IPL retention, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni will officially return to play his 18th season in the cash-rich tournament, as CSK confirmed on October 31. Since the 2024 season ended, fans have been eagerly waiting for news about Dhoni’s return, hoping to see their beloved “Thala” back on the field at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Dhoni’s return is only possible due to the re-introduction of the “uncapped player” rule by the BCCI, which had been previously scrapped in 2021. This rule now states that an Indian player with previous international experience can be classified as uncapped if they haven’t played international cricket in the last five years and don’t hold a BCCI Central Contract. As Dhoni last played internationally in 2019 and does not have a current BCCI contract, he qualifies as an uncapped player for the 2025 season.
Thanks to this rule, CSK was able to retain Dhoni at the price of an uncapped player—INR 4 Crore—allowing them to preserve their auction purse. Dhoni, who has been with CSK since the start of the IPL in 2008, has led the team to five IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023), making him one of the league’s most celebrated captains.
CSK Retention List Consists Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja Alongwith Dhoni
Along with Dhoni, CSK also retained several other key players. Star opener Ruturaj Gaikwad will stay with CSK at INR 18 Crore, while talented fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana was retained at INR 13 Crore. All-rounder Shivam Dube and seasoned player Ravindra Jadeja were also retained at INR 12 Crore and INR 18 Crore, respectively. After retaining these five players, CSK has spent INR 65 Crore out of their total purse of INR 120 Crore, leaving them with INR 55 Crore to further strengthen their squad in the mega auction.
CSK fans are thrilled to have Dhoni and the core team members back as they prepare for another promising season. With the retention list finalized, CSK can focus on building a balanced team for IPL 2025. This announcement has added excitement to the upcoming mega auction, where CSK will look to finalize their team and create a competitive squad to support captain Ruturaj Gaikwad to give Dhoni a dreamy farewell before he announces his IPL retirement.
Also read: MS Dhoni Reveals He Batted at 8 in IPL 2024 to Give Shivam Dube, Jadeja More Chance Ahead of T20 WC
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