MS Dhoni Set To Play Another IPL Season In 2025: A Masterstroke Or A Rule-Bending Move By BCCI?

MS Dhoni last played for India during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup; few could have predicted that we would still be discussing his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) more than five years later. Yet, here we are in 2025...

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When MS Dhoni last played for India during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, few could have predicted that we would still be discussing his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) more than five years later.

Yet, here we are in 2025, with the "Captain Cool" gearing up to play another season for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and once again, the world is buzzing with excitement.

What has genuinely captured attention this time, though, isn't just Dhoni's decision to continue playing but the significant changes to the IPL auction rules that seem to have been custom-tailored to extend his already legendary career. The most controversial of these rule changes is the reintroduction of the "Uncapped Player Rule," specifically the part that allows players who haven't played international cricket in over five years to be considered "uncapped." Naturally, this rule has sparked heated debates, with many cricket fans and analysts arguing that it appearsto be a strategic move by the BCCI to allow CSK to retain Dhoni at a discounted price.

So, has the BCCI bent the rules just for MS Dhoni? Or is this a well-intentioned move to promote domestic talent and help franchises manage their squads better?

THE UNCAPPED PLAYER RULE: A CLOSER LOOK