MS Dhoni set to play for new IPL team: reports
Mumbai: With BCCI firm to follow Supreme Court-appointed Lodha-committee verdict to keep Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals out of Indian Premier League for two years, MS Dhoni is likely to play for another franchisee.
At its working committee meeting on October 18, the BCCI decided that it would go with the Lodha committee's recommendation of suspending the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for two years, making the next two IPLs an eight-team affair.
According to reports, India’s World Cup winning skipper, who has captained the Chennai-based IPL team since its inception, is ready to be a part of new IPL side.
Under Dhoni's leadership, CSK had won the IPL trophy twice.
The BCCI said it will invite fresh bids for two new teams, which will be competing from 2016 onwards to complete the eight-team format in the absence of CSK and RR.
"The Justice Lodha committee interim report will be implemented fully. The two franchisee teams, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals remain suspended for two years. BCCI will float tenders and invite bids for two new teams to replace CSK & RR in the Indian Premier League for 2016 and 2017 (2 years)."
It is still unclear whether MS Dhoni will return to Chennai Super Kings in 2018 or continues to play for another team in IPL if he decides to move away from CSK during its suspension.