The IPL Governing Council has brought back the 'uncapped' player retention rule, which allows franchises to retain two Indian players who haven't play

After the BCCI released the player regulations for the 2025 Indian Premier League season, the five-time IPL champion Chennai Super Kings sighed with delight on Saturday. Details regarding the mega auction,

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reintroduced a rule for the uncapped category of Indian players ahead of IPL Auction 2025.

This rule will give two benefits to CSK. They can retain Dhoni for only INR 4 crores, means more money to either retain other players or use in the auction. Also, since Dhoni would be retained as an uncapped player, CSK could retain an extra capped player which wouldn’t have been possible without the return of this rule that was scrapped in 2021.

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Chennai Super Kings might have some headaches while deciding on their retentions ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auctions. CSK might retain only five players of which two can be uncapped. Here is a list of players the five-time champions might retain and release ahead of the auctions.

The revised players' retention rules have allowed CSK to retain their iconic captain, MS Dhoni, as an uncapped player.

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.

MS Dhoni fans were overjoyed after the BCCI brought back the 'uncapped player' rule for retentions ahead of the mega auction. Former India opener Aakash Chopra highlighted that the rule will not just benefit CSK and the former India captain.

BCCI’s IPL retention rules reveal that a capped Indian player becomes uncapped if not in the starting XI for five years. MS Dhoni, last playing in July 2019, is now uncapped, potentially saving CSK ₹4 crore during the auction.

Dhoni was CSK's second pick in IPL 2022 mega auction for Rs 12 crore. Dhoni, who turned 43 in July, has only played in the IPL since his international retirement in August 2020. However, the player has been tight-lipped about his playing future.