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IPL | List of players most likely to be retained by franchises before mega auction

Mayank Kumar

Although the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League concluded just two weeks back, the sense of anticipation for the next edition of the tournament has already been developing thick and fast. 

What is adding fuel to the fire for the interest and excitement about the next edition are the additions of two new franchises and a mega auction that will take place later this year, which has the potential to change the complete or substantial look of almost all franchises.

As per various media reports, the IPL governing council has allowed franchisees to retain a maximum of four players that can be in two combinations such as either three Indian players and one overseas player or two players each from India and two foreign countries. 

It’s unlikely that there will be the option of Right to Match card option in the auction this year and the franchisees will have to contend with four retentions and needless to say they will have to make some tough choices considering they have to pick a core for the near future.

Here, we’ll list out the probable players who are most likely to be retained by their current side before the mega auction.

Chennai Super Kings

Defending champions the Chennai Super Kings have their tasks cut out in deciding who they want to retain for the next few editions and a lot of their permutations and combinations will depend on what their talisman MS Dhoni decides to do with his IPL career. 

He did not reveal his plans and gave a mixed reply on whether he will be back for the next edition and there’s no prize guessing who will their first retention if Dhoni wishes to play one more season.

Probable retentions

If MS Dhoni wishes to play, the other three retentions could be Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar.

They will have a tough time giving up the likes of Moeen Ali, Faf du Plessis, and Sam Curran but such is the nature of the league.

The Super Kings have always focussed on maintaining the Indian core and hence it is highly plausible that all their retention could be Indian players.

Mumbai Indians

The most successful IPL franchises too have many headaches to deal with while deciding the only four players who are to be retained before the main auction.

There is more than certainty on the position of Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, and they have as many as four terrific players to choose from for the other two spots. 

The quartet of Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan, who have played a significant role in making the Mumbai Indians a side they have become now and retaining or releasing anyone of them would be a tough call for the Mumbai side.

Probable retentions

Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Kieron Pollard, Ishan Kishan

Punjab Kings

For the Punjab Kings, the pair of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal have been an indomitable force at the top of the order, but they have not been able to produce success for the side in terms of reaching the second stage of the tournament.

Hence, it’s unlikely that they will retain Rahul and they can go as far as retaining only two players and one of them could well be Mayank Agarwal.

None of their bowlers, except Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh, have been able to produce repetitive match-winning performances and hence the duo can find themselves in the same franchise in the next edition.

Probable retentions

Mayank Agarwal, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi

Royal Challengers Bangalore

The case of retentions would have been complicated for the Royal Challengers after their long-standing skipper Virat Kohli announced giving up captaincy starting the next edition. 

However, he maintained that his home will remain to be RCB till he plays in the tournament and hence the onus is on the franchise to either give him the opportunity or not allow him respectful exit from the tournament.

Their big-ticket purchase Glenn Maxwell turned out to be the trump card with the bat in this edition and hence he could be a compelling choice for retention.

They also found a bowling version of consistency in Harshal Patel and they could go for him as the only bowler to be retained.

Probable retentions

Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Harshal Patel

Delhi Capitals

Rishabh Pant led the Delhi Capitals to the qualifier stage of the tournament this edition and that should mark the end of Shreyas Iyer in the Capitals dugout. The Capitals should not find it tough to select their four players to be retained and there are some obvious names who must not be risked releasing in the auction. They could choose to retain the India duo of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, two players who are touted to be the future of Indian cricket. Despite Shikhar Dhawan being the most prolific batter in the side, he might be let go given the constraints around his age. Barring those two, Delhi would surely like to keep the services of Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada, who have bowled exceptionally well in tandem and are just 26 and 27 years old respectively.

Probable retentions

Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje

Rajasthan Royals

The Royals could not break the streak of inconsistent performances and missed the playoff bus for one more season in the 14th edition and the management should be looking to constitute a side around Sanju Samson.

They have had a core of brilliant England cricketers but their on and off presence with the side in the tournament has not helped the side on a consistent basis and hence it’s highly likely that the Royals would not retain anyone except Sanju Samson.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

The Sunrisers Hyderabad found themselves in turmoil in the last edition and first they changed their captain from David Warner to Kane Williamson. However, results did not follow and it would be interesting to see how much the Sunrisers management values Williamson’s role.

If they don’t retain him, there could well be just two retentions from their side and those two could be a batsman and a champion bowler of the format. The option of a young and dynamic batsman in Abdul Samad would be a compelling choice but it’s unlikely they would retain him.

Probable retentions

Jonny Bairstow, Rashid Khan

Kolkata Knight Riders

The Kolkata Knight Riders ran a spirited marathon to the final of the 14 edition of the tournament under the leadership of Eoin Morgan, but his horrible form with the bat is unlikely to fetch him retention from the Knight Riders.

They have been helped immensely by Andre Russell and their CEO Venky Mysore had all but confirmed he will be a “Knight Riders” till he plays the league and hence he should be on the retention list unless something untoward happens between now and the mega auction.

The Knight Riders would also be compelled to retain both Venkatesh Iyer, who was the find of the tournament earlier this month and Shubman Gill but it’s unlikely both of them will get the nod.

They would also be keen to retain Lockie Ferguson, who has been an asset for them and has provided a rapid pace bowling option in the absence or alongside Pat Cummins.

Probable retentions

Andre Russell, Lockie Ferguson, Shubman Gill

 

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