Delhi Capitals have released their long-time player and captain Rishabh Pant ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, leaving many fans and experts surprised. Despite Pant's impressive performance in the 2024 season, where he made a strong comeback and also gained the Indian team's trust across formats, the franchise decided not to retain him. This has opened up opportunities for other franchises, particularly RCB, who have a large budget and need a strong captain and wicket-keeper. Meanwhile, PBKS will also be a key bidder as they have the largest purse among all teams.
The BCCI's newly announced retention policy for IPL 2025 has brought back a rule that allows each franchise to retain one 'uncapped' Indian player for no more than Rs 4 crore. This has opened the door for Chennai Super Kings to retain MS Dhoni for another season, thanks to his international break of over 5 years. While some experts see it as an attempt to cash in on Dhoni's brand, others welcome the move as it allows one of the league's major icons to continue playing. Additionally, there are nine other former Indian players who can be retained as 'uncapped' under the new rules.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings faced off in a crucial match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. With CSK needing to win by an 18-run margin to qualify for the playoffs, the home team set a high target of 218 for the visitors to chase. Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, two of the biggest names in Indian cricket, took to the field for what could be their last time batting together. Despite the weather forecast, the match began without any interruptions and fans were treated to classic performances from both teams, including a half-century by CSK's Faf du Plessis. The players entertained the crowd with their skills and kept them on the edge of their seats till the very end. Follow along for live updates and score from the exciting RCB vs CSK match.
Speculations are rife about MS Dhoni's retirement from IPL after 2024, with cricket fans and pundits alike discussing the possibility. Dhoni's former teammate and commentator Suresh Raina was recently asked about it, to which he gave a cryptic one-word answer that has gone viral on social media. However, with Dhoni's impressive performances in the limited opportunities he has got in this year's IPL, fans are hopeful of seeing him play for another season. The decision ultimately lies with Dhoni, considering his physical struggles with his knee injury, but until then, the speculation continues.