MUMBAI: MS Dhoni’s legend status was further embellished Friday night when he led his franchise Chennai Super Kings to their fourth Indian Premier League title in Dubai.
The latest milestone added to Dhoni’s amazing IPL record brought front and centre the surmise making the rounds that with two new franchises (presumably with cash to burn at their respective disposals) making their debuts next season, big monies will be chasing the BIG GUNS of Indian cricket, as too international cricket.
CSK, which posted 192/3 on the board on the back of South African Faf du Plessis’ brilliant 86, restricting KKR to 165/9, and Shardul Thakur provided the pivotal winning bowling turn against the Sharukh Khan-owned two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders, ultimately sealing a comprehensive 27-run win on the night to take home the IPL title.
Coming to the point of note about BIG players likely being chased by BIG MONEY to either leave or stay with their current franchises ahead of, and during, next year’s IPL players’ mega auction. Cricbuzz reports that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating allowing the two new IPL teams to buy a few players outside of the auction. The move, ostensibly, is aimed at ensuring a level-playing field for the newcomers as the existing eight IPL franchises are certain to be granted the option of retentions.
Sources within the BCCI and the franchises have indicated to the cricket website that the two teams will be able to pick a few players among those who have enrolled themselves into the auction. The exact mechanism for picking the players is being worked out but unmistakably, the players taken will be the big names and their fee will be decided mutually between the franchise and the player.
While the number of ‘special picks’ has not been officially announced, as per Cricbuzz, it will be two to three players, with the final number being decided basis the number of retentions allowed for the eight existing teams. The general impression so far is that the existing franchises could be allowed up to four retentions with three Indians and one foreigner or a maximum of three Indians and a maximum of two foreigners with the total not exceeding four. If four are allowed, it is unlikely there will be any Right to Match (RTM) cards.
Questions to this effect were sent by the existing franchises as well some agencies and the BCCI has replied to them stating that the retention policy will be announced later. Formally, the BCCI is expected to come out with a policy while announcing the two new teams on October 25 or immediately after that.
One of the contentious points for the new parties, as per Crickbuzz, is the calculation of the net worth of an individual. Many have asked the BCCI how one can arrive at net worth and the BCCI is believed to have told the parties that reputed auditor firms will have to provide the certification of one’s financial assets.
Coming back to Dhoni, in the post match presentation, CSK’s Captain Cool, who has led the franchise since the tournament’s inception in 2008, provided a cryptic response to a question on his IPL future in the face of the imminent big auction that will also feature two new teams.
“Again I’ve said it before, it depends on BCCI. With two new teams coming in… …we have to decide what is good for CSK. It’s not about me being there in top-three or four. It’s about making a strong core to ensure the franchise doesn’t suffer. The core group, we have to have a hard look to see who can contribute for the next 10 years,” Dhoni said.
When prodded further by commentator Harsha Bhogle about the legacy he’d left behind, Dhoni added with a chuckle: “Still I haven’t left behind (laughs)”
Rewind to CSK’s IPL game against Punjab Kings on October 6, the 40-year-old was asked about whether he would be staying with the franchise, which he has been synonymous with since the IPL’s inception. “Well, you can see me in yellow next year. But whether I will be playing for CSK? There are a lot of uncertainties around it for a simple reason that we have two new teams coming up,” the former Team India captain had said then, referring to the IPL’s expansion into a 10-team competition from next season.
“We don’t know the retention policy. We don’t know how many foreigners, Indian players we can retain, the money cap that every player will be cutting from the kitty. So there are a lot of uncertainties.
“Unless the rules are in place, you can’t really decide that. So we will wait for it to happen and hopefully it will be good for everyone,” he added.
The non-commital nature of his remarks appeared to make one thing clear. That Dhoni was hedging his bets, which was surprising seesing as earlier that very same week, while interacting with fans during the 75th year celebrations of CSK parent ‘India Cements’, Dhoni had indicated that he would be turning out in CSK colours next season.
“When it comes to farewell, you can still come and see me play for CSK and that can be my farewell game. So, you will still get that opportunity to bid me farewell. Hopefully, we will come to see Chennai and play my last game over there and we can meet fans there,” Dhoni had said.
Be that as it may, CSK is seriously keen to retain only three players – Dhoni, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and prolific opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.
MSD first in world cricket to captain in 300 T20 games
Dhoni on Friday became the first player in world cricket to captain a team in 300 T20 games across various competitions, during his side’s IPL summit clash against Kolkata Kight Riders here.
The 40-year-old former India captain, playing his 10th IPL final (ninth for CSK as captain), has led the ‘Yellow Brigade’ in 214 games across 12 editions that they have taken part out of the 14 IPL seasons.
He has also led Rising Pune Supergiants during one IPL season apart from leading India in six T20 World Cups. His crowning glory would certainly be leading India to the T20 World Cup title in South Africa back in 2007.
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