MS Dhoni to be included in CSK's retention shortlist at lowest category ahead of IPL mega auction: Report

Chennai Super Kings are reportedly set to retain seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube and Sri Lankan pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana alongside MS Dhoni for the mega auction ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL).

According to RevSportz, the five-time IPL champions also have current skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and senior spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on their short list besides Dhoni, Dube and Pathirana.

CSK’s final list, however, will depend on BCCI’s retention policy for what will be the second IPL mega auction taking place inside three years.

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Dhoni thus could end up playing one more season for the team that had led from the inaugural edition in 2008 until 2023, excluding the 2015 and the 2016 seasons when the franchise was suspended along with Rajasthan Royals due to corruption.

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The report, however, adds that Dhoni isn’t likely to take up a big chunk of the franchise’s purse for the mega auction and will either be included at the lowest retention value or as an uncapped player .

The latter can only happen if the BCCI brings back the old retention rule that allowed players who have been retired from international cricket for more than five years.

The 43-year-old was widely expected to have made his final appearance in a yellow jersey after leading CSK to their fifth title in 2023, defeating the-trophy holders Gujarat Titans in the final in Ahmedabad.

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Dhoni chose to play the 17th season of the world’s biggest T20 league, but announced his decision to quit captaincy on the eve of the season-opening clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru .

Gaikwad, also a wicketkeeper-batter, was announced as Dhoni's successor though in his maiden season as captain, CSK narrowly missed out on a place in the playoffs following a defeat against RCB in their final league game.

Dhoni has been batting lower down the order in the last two seasons, limiting his time at the centre to short but explosive cameos. Though he remains agile as ever behind the stumps, Dhoni has limited his running between the wickets, focusing on scoring quick runs through fours and sixes instead.

Jadeja’s effectiveness with bat as well as ball in addition to his superb fielding skills still makes him an asset for CSK as well as for the Indian team despite the left-arm spinner touching the age of 36. ‘Jaddu’ had briefly taken over captaincy from Dhoni in the 2022 season, but handed it back to ‘Captain Cool’ after the team suffered a string of defeats.

Read | BCCI could defer decision on IPL player retention rule: Report

Dube, meanwhile, has been a mainstay in the CSK middle order and has been among the runs for Chennai in the last two seasons, scoring 418 and 396 runs in 2023 and earlier this year respectively, striking at over 150 in both seasons.

Pathirana, on the other hand, has grown by leaps and bounds as a pacer, especially as a death overs specialist, since he was acquired by the franchise in 2022.

The 21-year-old pacer, who bowls with a slingy action similar to that of Lasith Malinga, collected 19 wickets in 2023 at an average of 19.53 and was even better this year (13 wickets; average: 13; economy: 7.68) before a hamstring injury cut his season short after just six appearances.