Ravichandran Ashwin's Retention Strategy: 'I Will Keep MS Dhoni as...' Former CSK Skipper

New Delhi: As the IPL 2025 retention day draws closer, all eyes are on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as fans eagerly await news about the future of their beloved captain, MS Dhoni. The BCCI has brought back the rule allowing teams to retain uncapped players, giving CSK the opportunity to retain Dhoni for a sum of ₹4 crore. This rule states that a player who has not participated in international cricket for the past five years can be retained for ₹4 crore, making Dhoni eligible for retention under these conditions.

Thus, MSD stayed out of the fray since July 2019 and became eligible to be retained by CSK in case of the BCCI’s untapped player rule for a price tag of ₹4 crore. This would mean a reduction in price to retain Dhoni’s services at CSK. But two weeks ahead of the retention date, R Ashwin rocked the boat with a bold statement saying he would retain Dhoni as a capped player. Ashwin’s comment also indicates that it is more than the pecuniary benefit from the uncapped retention rule as it reflects the value of experience and leadership from Dhoni and the significance of his presence in the CSK team.

“I will give a fresh perspective. I will retain Rutu (Ruturaj), Jaddu (Ravindra), Dube, Pathirana and Dhoni. I will retain Dhoni as a normal capped player, not as an uncapped player. I’ll retain these five and will get Sameer Rizvi as my sixth retention,” the former CSK spinner said on his YouTube channel.

In addition to MS Dhoni, players like Sandeep Sharma, Vijay Shankar, and Piyush Chawla are also eligible for retention under the uncapped player rule for IPL 2025. This rule, which was in place from 2008 to 2021, allows franchises to retain players who haven’t played international cricket in the past five years for a sum of ₹4 crore. With the rule now reintroduced, it provides an opportunity for franchises to secure the services of experienced players at a lower price, potentially shaping the retention strategy of various teams for the upcoming season.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja are most likely going to be the core players for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) when the new season of IPL 2025 is about to arrive. Ruturaj has been in CSK since 2019 when he became well integrated into the scheme of things and now features as an essential component in the top order. Ravindra Jadeja, on his part, has never been a doubt for CSK management as they always made him an essential component. Jadeja was CSK’s first retention choice for 2022 to 2024, with a yearly salary of ₹16 crore. And his all-round skills and leadership skills make him an asset to the Yellow Army.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made his IPL debut in 2020, quickly established himself as a key player for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), winning the Orange Cap in 2021 for scoring the most runs in the season. Recognizing his potential, CSK retained him ahead of the IPL 2022 mega-auction. In a significant leadership change, MS Dhoni stepped down as captain before IPL 2024, entrusting Ruturaj with the responsibility. With his rise in stature within the team, Ruturaj is poised to become CSK’s first-choice retention for the IPL 2025 season, which would secure him a salary of ₹18 crore—a testament to his value to the franchise.