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Former India keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik had openly admitted that IPL reintroducing the rule of a capped Indian player becoming uncapped (if he hasn't played international cricket for five years) has been brought back only for MS Dhoni. Karthik, however, added that he is completely in favor of the move since it will only benefit the tournament.
While announcing the player regulations for 2025-2027 on Saturday, September 28, the BCCI confirmed that 'a capped Indian player will become uncapped, if the player has in the last five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant Season is held'. This rule was introduced during the inaugural IPL season in 2008, but was scrapped in 2021.
Asked about the much-discussed rule making a comeback, Karthik told Cricbuzz during an interaction:
"Everybody talks about it. This rule is made for one man and I am for it through and through. This man has been such a major part of what this IPL has been about. If everybody is in a happy place - be it BCCI, be it any of the teams, be it how the league has performed over the years and how it has kept players so happy over the last 15-18 years, this man has played a major role.
"You can ask any TV broadcaster and you will get the answer that when this man steps on the field, the ratings go up. This is a fact. If you are going to do something that is going to help the league, why not? You don't want to bend and break the rules, but if it's a fair one, where all teams have been informed and they all feel it's fair, let's go ahead. Why not? He is a special cricketer."
Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020, but last played a match for India in July 2019 when the Men in Blue faced New Zealand in the ODI World Cup semifinal in Manchester.
MS Dhoni's superb record in the IPL
Dhoni has been part of the IPL in every season since its inception in 2008. Even when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were banned from the T20 league for two years, he represented Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). As captain, the 43-year-old has led CSK to a record-equaling five titles.
With the bat, the keeper-batter has scored 5,243 runs in 264 matches at an average of 39.13 and a strike rate of 137.54, with 24 half-centuries.
