MS Dhoni earned less than his teammate Ben Stokes in the Indian Premier League (IPL). On June 28, Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket.
What happened?
Ben Stokes played for Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) in 2017, earning Rs 14.50 crore, while MS Dhoni earned Rs 12.50 crore.
Stokes joined Rajasthan Royals (RR) in 2018 for Rs 12.50 crore, and Dhoni returned to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs 15 crore.
Why it matters for MS Dhoni
In 2023, Stokes earned Rs 16.25 crore, while Dhoni earned Rs 12 crore, as Stokes became Dhoni's teammate again at CSK.
Dhoni-led CSK won the IPL 2023 title, defeating Gujarat Titans in the final.
What comes next?
Stokes can only return to the IPL after putting his name in the 2028 mega-auction, as per IPL rules.
On June 28, Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket, and it will be interesting to see if he returns to the IPL.
Stokes played only two matches in the 2023 season due to an injury and wasn't available for the second round.
The IPL 2023 final was a nail-biting match, with CSK winning by a narrow margin.
Dhoni's leadership was instrumental in CSK's victory, as they lifted the trophy for the fifth time.
The IPL rules state that a player can only return to the league after participating in the mega-auction.
Stokes' retirement from international cricket has sparked interest in his potential return to the IPL.