Former Indian batter Ajay Jadeja feels former Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni, current skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will be three perfect retentions for the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
According to new retention rules released by the IPL governing council on Saturday, every franchise can retain a maximum of six players through retention or Right to Match card. Furthermore, MS Dhoni can be as retained as an uncapped player as he hasn’t played any International cricket in the last five years since his retirement in 2020.
Dhoni scored 161 runs in 11 innings at an impressive average of 53.67 and a blistering strike rate of 220.54 in IPL 2024.
Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad was the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2024 as he scored 583 runs in 14 matches at an average of 53 while leading Chennai Super Kings for the first time.
“One is MS Dhoni for sure. There is no doubt about that because firstly he has become an uncapped player now and he has shown for so many years that he doesn’t desire to be No. 1 or No. 2 to make the team. So there is no doubt at that value,” Ajay Jadeja said on Colors Cineplex.
“Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had a good year, so you will want to keep him as well. You cannot leave Ravindra, I am not talking about Rachin, I am talking about Jadeja. I feel these three are perfect for them,” the former India captain added.
Jadeja added that things would be more organized in the big auction and CSK will be able to retain their core if they have enough money in their auction purse.
“I don’t see any other player who they won’t get back because this is a big auction. The small auction remains in your mind, the amount Mitchell Starc got, and the entire world was running after him. If the team is already prepared, and money is left, they are spent differently. When the teams are getting built, even names in the first round go unsold at times and come back again,” he reasoned.
The former middle-order batter feels Matheesha Pathirana could be a potential overseas retention ahead of the auction.
“So if a team wants to change their style, the fewer you retain, it’s better. So these three according to me will be retained for sure. You would not want to leave Pathirana. I am seeing him as one among the overseas players. You need to keep players not because of the money, but their style. So I feel these four will be their main players and they will keep two RTMs,” Jadeja observed.
