'We have to see what decision they take on player retention' - MS Dhoni keeps an ear to ground before featuring in IPL 2025

Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepped down from the captaincy at the Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2024 as Ruturaj Gaikwad held the reigns. CSK had a disastrous outing as the team failed to qualify for the playoffs. But the fans of Dhoni flocked to stadiums across the country to glimpse their star player’s presence on the field. As usual, the veteran’s availability for the next season is much speculated and the man himself revealed the probabilities of preferred outcome. 

CSK have had a solid auction strategy but they are the only team to have maintained the balance by being able to retain the star players and retrieving some by the Right to Match (RTM) option. Ahead of the 2025 season, the team boasts an array of talents one would hesitate to release some with four player retention cap. Dhoni is eyeing a reform in the retention rule to stay inside the den and decide to play further, while not hampering the team’s combination.

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"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 needs to be in the best interest of the team,” said Dhoni at an event in Hyderabad.

Here’s the video of Dhoni’s conversation around his probable comeback:

On July 31, BCCI and the IPL Governing Council met with the IPL franchise owners to discuss matters and requests revolving around the upcoming Mega Auctions. It was reported that all 10 franchises are in tandem with at least six players' retention caps and also leeway in using RTM to maintain the sanctity of team combination built over the years. The decision on the retention of the Impact Player Rule was also the point of discussion after a severe backlash in the previous season.