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Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal has rejected claims that the uncapped rule has been brought back by the BCCI specifically to allow the legendary MS Dhoni to play in the T20 league for another season. Naming the likes of Piyush Chawla and Amit Mishra, Dhumal asserted that the regulation will benefit other Indian players as well.
While announcing the IPL player regulations for 2025-27, the BCCI brought back the rule as per which an Indian player who has not played international cricket for five years (and does not have BCCI Central Contract) can be considered as an uncapped player. The rule was in place from the start of the IPL in 2008 until it was scrapped in 2021.
There have been mixed reactions to the rule being brought back. Several fans and experts have claimed that the regulation has made its way back to the IPL just for Dhoni. Dhumal, however, disagreed with the sentiment. Speaking to Rediff in an interview, he opined:
"When it comes to strategy or planning for a match, there is nobody better than Dhoni. Whether he is uncapped or capped, every franchise would want to pick Dhoni, no matter what price he is available for. I don't think so that this uncapped player is an exception for M S Dhoni."
"It is for all our players because so many young talents who are making it to the Indian team, but there are many senior players who are announcing their retirement from international cricket but they are fit to play. You have someone like Piyush Chawla still playing in the IPL or you have Amit Mishra. They have been out of the Indian team for so many years, but they have done so well in the IPL," he added.
"The uncapped player ruling is for all those players who have shown passion for the game and kept themselves fit and firing to play in the IPL," Dhumal concluded.
While teams will have to spend a minimum of ₹11 crore to retain a capped player ahead of the mega auction, an uncapped player can be retained for ₹4 crore.
How did MS Dhoni perform in IPL 2024?
Under Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won the IPL for a record-equaling fifth time in the 2023 season. He handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad for the 2024 edition.
Playing as a keeper-batter in the lower order, the right-handed batter contributed a few impressive cameos. He faced 73 balls in IPL 2024 and hammered 161 runs at a strike rate of 220.55, with 14 fours and 13 sixes.
