There are two types of people in this world. There are those who rise up from the bottom, and there are those who fall down from the top. In the IPL, MS Dhoni is one who has come down from the top. He began his journey back in 2008 when he was the costliest player in the IPL. For nearly a decade now, he’s always received the highest paycheck. Now, when he would be 43 years old, he is going to play as an uncapped player for the very first time in the IPL history.
Usually, fresh faces join the IPL with dreams. They want to play well, get picked by a good team, and make a name for themselves. But not this lad Dhoni. He began at the top by winning the IPL several times and bringing three ICC trophies home. Now, he is becoming an uncapped player.
What is an Uncapped Player?
An uncapped player is that one who has not played for the national team of late. This rule defines that if a player hasn’t played an international match for five years they can be termed as an uncapped one. Such change happens to be very significant in Dhoni’s case also.
Economic Modifications for Dhoni
Being an uncapped player, Dhoni’s money will vary a lot. He used to earn 18 crores or 16 crores, but now he will get only 4 crores officially. This is a huge drop in his salary. However, many fans believe that this rule was made just for Dhoni. They think he would be fine as he has earned a lot of money in his career.
New IPL Rules for 2025
The IPL is getting ready for 2025, and with that, a lot of new rules have surfaced. Notably, teams can retain a maximum number of six players. In the five capped, two uncapped rule, the good news for the future is that Dhoni can well be a part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team.
Dhoni Last Matches
He was the last player from the Indian national side to play in 2019, but after that, he has been concentrating on the IPL. Just before the mega auction in 2022, CSK retained him since he was still a big name in cricket then. Now, with the new rules that will be given effect to, Dhoni will be termed as an uncapped player. He will play for CSK once more, but at a much lesser wage.
The Future Ahead for Dhoni
There are many questions about Dhoni future. After his knee surgery, he hardly played. He even gave up captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni said that he will take a call on his future after seeing the new retention rules.
Fans are eagerly waiting for Dhoni return to the grounds, even as an uncapped player. They look forward to him coming back to his previous energy and caliber within the game. More people feel that he can still make a difference to the playing XI and CSK could win more games.
What Do Fans Think?
The fans have a mixed reaction to the new role Dhoni is taking. One is sad to see him become an uncapped player, but on the positive side, he will still be playing. They believe Dhoni experience will benefit the young players in the team.
MS Dhoni’s Career in IPL: From a Star to Uncapped Player
Conclusion
MS Dhoni’s career in IPL is one in a league of its own. He started off as one of the biggest superstars around. However, he is now on his way to becoming one of the uncapped players in the list. This transition always brings its fair share of trials and tribulations. But all will also be closely watching him because he will continue to play for CSK. Whatever that happens, Dhoni will always find his place in the hearts of his cricket world.
As the hype for the 2025 IPL season gathers, one particular question keeps lingering in the minds of many: how will Dhoni cope up with this new role? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure—his fans will always be there for him.