Dhoni will play for Pune in next year’s IPL

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will represent the new Pune franchise in next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) after being selected by them at a dispersal draft on Tuesday.

Players from the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, both of whom have been banned from the IPL for two years due to the 2013 corruption scandal, were made available to Pune and Rajkot.

Both franchises picked five players, while the rest were put back in the auction, which will take place in February.

India batsman Suresh Raina was selected second overall and was Rajkot’s first pick. In the end, Rajkot selected Ravindra Jadeja, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, Australia all-rounder James Faulkner and West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo.

Pune meanwhile opted to go for Ravichandran Ashwin, Australia captain Steven Smith, South Africa Twenty20 skipper Faf du Plessis and India batsman Ajinkya Rahane.