IPL 2025: How can CSK slot MS Dhoni as an Uncapped Player? How much money will they pay to retain Dhoni?

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As the BCCI meeting has cleared out the retention scenario for the IPL 2025 mega auction, amid the complexity of the current retention policies, a particular piece of news must have rung as a blessing for Chennai Super Kings.

The past couple of months have been hugely debated with Chennai Super Kings' retention policy, especially the name of MS Dhoni has been associated with it.

There has been speculation on Dhoni's retention at the franchise, which is generally a no-brainer for anyone. But as the BCCI guidelines for the retained players started to break out, the five-player retention policy didn't have a slot for an uncapped player. But things are looking a lot clearer now.

MS Dhoni's place at the team is undoubted and CSK would have retained him at any cost, and the question was how much money they will have to spend to keep him.

As per the new scenario, franchises can retain up to five players, which will cost them Rs 75 crore. But along with that, they can also retain one uncapped player, which is a massive boost for the Super Kings.

MS Dhoni can be retained as Uncapped Player

Although MS Dhoni and uncapped don't go together, but the man who led India to three ICC tournaments, can be slotted in as an uncapped player by CSK if they want to retain the former India skipper.

IPL has decided to bring back a rule which was valid in its inaugural season in 2008, allowing Indian players who retired from international cricket five years prior to the auction to be considered as an uncapped player.

Dhoni's last international match was in the semifinal of World Cup 2019, which is more than five years when the auction takes place later this year. This has cleared the path for the Super Kings to keep the veteran in their ranks.

How much money will CSK pay for MS Dhoni?

To keep MS Dhoni in the uncapped player category, CSK will have to pay Rs 4 crore as that has been deemed as the price for an uncapped player's retention. The 43-year-old received Rs 12 crore in the IPL 2022 mega auction after retention, but will have to take a significant pay cut if CSK decide to retain him.