IPL 2025 Retentions: Like MS Dhoni, 8 Other Indian Cricketers Who Can Be Retained in Uncapped Category

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The Board Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finalized the much-awaited retention rules earlier this week, allowing teams up to 6 retentions, and also reinstated a rule that was scrapped in 2021.

The IPL Governing Council on Saturday (September 28) announced the IPL player regulations for 2025-27 cycle. And in their announcement, they also brought back the uncapped player rule for India's international players with over five years of gap in their last appearance for the national team.

The rule which only applies to Indian players, states that any player who hasn't played international cricket or held a central contact for five years will be categorized as uncapped. A franchise is allowed to retain a maximum of two such players for Rs 4 crore each.

"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. This will be applicable for Indian Players only," the IPL released stated.

One player who falls in this category is former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who last played an international match in 2019 during the ODI World Cup in England. However, Dhoni will not be the only player who fulfills this criteria to qualify as uncapped.

Indian Internationals Who Can Be Retained As Uncapped Players Ahead of IPL 2025 Auction

There are several other Indian cricketers, including Dhoni's former teammate at Chennai Super Kings, who can be retained in the uncapped category by another franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, scheduled to be held later this year.

Although most will not be retained like Dhoni, here is a look at the nine other Indian cricketers who fall under the category, having not played for the national team for 5 or more years:

Sandeep Sharma (Rajasthan Royals)

The 31-year-old Chandigarh pacer, who has 2 T20I caps to his name, last played for India in 2015 during the tour of Zimbabwe. But failed to break into the team again. He, however, had a decent IPL season recently, claiming 13 wickets in 10 innings at an economy rate of 8.18.

Mohit Sharma (Gujarat Giants)

The 36-year-old Haryana pacer, who has represented India in 4 T20Is and 26 ODIs, last played for the country in 2015 during a 50-over series against South Africa. He returned to IPL thanks to the impact rule in 2023, and delivered in both seasons since then for Gujarat Titans. He was the highest wicket-taker for GT in 2024 with 13 wickets.

Piyush Chawla (Mumbai Indians)

The 35-year-old Uttar Pradesh leg-spinner last featured for India in 2012 during a Test against England, and has since not been part of the national side. But, the tweaker has played in every IPL season since then except for the 2020 edition. In the 2024 season, Chawla claimed 13 wickets for Mumbai Indians.

Vijay Shankar (Gujarat Titans)

The 33-year-old all-rounder from Tamil Nadu like Dhoni last played for India in the 2019 ODI World Cup. Unlike the rest of this group, Shankar has become a bit-part player in the IPL, playing just 7 times in the recent season for Gujarat Titans.

Amit Mishra (Lucknow Super Giants)

The veteran leg-spinner, who has featured in 66 internationals across formats, last played for India in 2017 during a T20I series against England, and has since been out of reckoning in the national side. He, however, has played in IPL sporadically over the years. He is currently 41 and could feature as an impact player.

Rishi Dhawan (Punjab Kings)

The 34-year-old Himachal Pradesh all-rounder last represented India in 2016, making 4 international appearances before falling down the pecking order. He had gone missing since 2016, but has returned to the IPL from 2022 with Punjab Kings, playing very rarely in the last three editions.

Mayank Markande (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

The 26-year-old leg-spinner from Punjab has made just one international appearance, representing India in a solitary T20I back in 2019 against Australia. Although age is on his side, he has hardly made enough appearances even in the IPL. For SRH, he 20 wickets in the last two seasons.

Karn Sharma (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

The 36-year-old leg-spinner last played for India in 2014. He has represented the national team in 1 Test, 2 ODIs and 1 T20I. The domestic journeyman, who is no mug with the bat, has been part of the IPL, but has not been a regular. In 2024, he claimed 7 wickets in 9 matches for RCB.

While all these players are eligible to fall in the uncapped category for retention, none may be considered to be retained at Rs 4 Crore like MS Dhoni for Chennai Super Kings. They are all likely to head into the auction, where teams may still buy them back.