A Call On MS Dhoni's Retention Will Be Made Once The Rules Are Known, Says CSK Sources

The decision on the retention of Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni for next year’s IPL will be made only when the BCCI released the retention policies, sources said after the talismanic captain led the franchise to its fourth IPL title on Friday in Dubai defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final.

Speculations about whether MS Dhoni will continue playing in the IPL, or will be retained by CSK have been a talking point this entire season, considering a mega-auction is planned ahead of IPL 2022, which will also see the addition of two new teams.

As with the previous mega auction four seasons ago, the BCCI is likely to give few retentions to each franchise, although not as many as they did last time around.

“The rules of retention are not clear yet…We are not sure about the number of retentions that will be allowed. And a call on that will be made once the rules are known,” a CSK official told PTI.

The official also revealed that CSK’s title victory will be properly celebrated when MS Dhoni finishes his duties as Team India’s mentor at the T20 World Cup.

“The victory celebrations will have to wait for the return of Dhoni after he is done with the role as mentor of the Indian team for the T20 World Cup,” the official added.

We have to decide what is good for CSK: MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni didn’t reveal his plans for the future with CSK or in the IPL when asked after the IPL 2021 final. He said that the franchise must make sure their plans on retention are regarding the future and not about him.

“We have to decide what is good for CSK, you know. It’s not really about me being there in the top three or four, whatever the retained number of players is,” MS Dhoni said after the IPL 2021 final.

“It’s about making a strong core and making sure the franchise doesn’t really suffer, because it will be an auction where you have to make a team for the next ten years. Definitely in 2008, the core group carried on for more than ten years. We’ll have to have a hard look as to… in the next ten years, who are the people who will contribute in a similar manner.”

When congratulated on the legacy he was leaving behind at CSK, MS Dhoni promptly said, “But still, I haven’t left [it] behind!”

He has joined the Indian team contingent on Sunday to assist in preparation for the T20 World Cup.

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