MS Dhoni would be CSK's first retention: Harbhajan Singh

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh recently mentioned that legendary skipper MS Dhoni should remain Chennai Super Kings' top priority for retention, even if he qualifies as an uncapped player for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. 

Speaking to Star Sports, Harbhajan opened up on CSK's potential retention tactic as teams prepare their retention lists ahead of the upcoming IPL season, with the deadline approaching on October 31.

“I’m not certain if Dhoni will play or not, but if he’s available, he would certainly be the team’s first choice for retention, even if he is considered an uncapped player this season," the former spinner said.

Dhoni's future in the league has become a topic of discussion because as per the new retention rule, players who have either retired from international cricket five years prior to the season or haven't participated in international cricket during that period can now be classified as uncapped players.

This rule could significantly help CSK, as the 43-year-old, who announced his international retirement on August 15, 2020, could potentially be retained for just INR four crore. Looking ahead to 2025, Harbhajan gave his take on what he believes should be CSK's complete retention strategy.

"Following him, the next pick would be Ravindra Jadeja, then Rachin Ravindra. As for the captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, he would also be a definite retention, I believe these four players will be retained. Besides them, we could also see Pathirana, who is an excellent bowler, kept in the squad. And if an uncapped player is retained, there could be a surprise choice, but it’s possible CSK will only retain five players. So in my view, the likely retentions -are Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Pathirana,” Singh added.

Also Read: Watch: MS Dhoni's uber cool look ahead of IPL 2025 auction

I’d look to secure captain Pat Cummins: Tom Moody

Additionally, former Australian batter and a long-standing coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad Tom Moody gave his take on SRH’s retention strategy and mentioned the players he believes should be prioritized ahead of the mega auctions. Notably, the Hyderabad-based franchise ended up as runner-up in the 2024 edition as they lost the summit clash to Shreyas Iyer's Kolkata Knight Riders.

"When I look at SRH, they’ve got one of the tougher jobs among franchises during this retention period. At the top, I’d look to secure captain Pat Cummins, followed by Travis Head and then Abhishek Sharma. I’d extend it even further, which would be costly, but I think it’s worth it to retain a player of Heinrich Klaasen’s calibre," Moody said.

The 59-year-old also named the newly capped Nitish Reddy in his top-four picks, along with the hard-hitting Abdul Samad. 

"Then there’s Nitish Reddy, who has recently been capped, and I believe it’s crucial they secure him before he enters the auction. Among uncapped players, I’d definitely consider Abdul Samad, who is a rare talent. He’s a powerful hitter who can come into the middle order and change the game," Moody concluded.