‘MS Dhoni is the identity of CSK…’: Tom Moody on uncapped player rule in IPL

NEW DELHI: The return of the uncapped player rule, which had been there since the inaugural edition and only went away in 2021, is a shot in the arm for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as it allows them to retain one of most sought-after players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for just Rs 12 crores spread over three seasons.
That’s a short-change for a player like MS Dhoni and the value he brings to the CSK brand and team alike.
The IPL Media Advisory on September 28 read, “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, not played in the starting XI in International Cricket (Test match, ODI, Twenty20 International) or does not have a Central Contract with BCCI. This will be applicable for Indian Players only.”
Talking on the ESPNCricinfo show, former Australia all-rounder and ex-Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody said, “I think it’s a great rule. I think it allows, if you are good enough and you have got longevity, it allows a player to continue to play on the big stage and perform and have some sort of role; without them, I suppose, you are making it difficult, from a price perspective, to retain those players because they might be the identity, or in Dhoni’s case, certainly he is the identity of CSK. So, I don’t think that’s an issue at all. I think the longer the likes of iconic players like Dhoni can play in the IPL and can physically deliver like he has been, it’s good for the tournament.”
Moody added that the five-year rule can be further cut down to three years.
“I personally think five years is a long time; I would like to see it as a three-year window. Once a player has played his last international game, I think if you are out of international cricket or you haven’t been considered to play for India over that three-year window, you should be given the right of passage to be able to come in at that four-crow level,” he added.
Dhoni and the CSK top brass are yet to have discussions regarding his future after the retention rules were announced.
The former CSK captain had said at an event that he would take a call on his future after the retention rules are announced. The rules are now in and CSK have a chance to retain their former skipper for just Rs 4 crores a season.
It not only allows them to retain Dhoni but also reserve the top three retention spots for the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Matheesha Pathirana.