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'They Will Just Retain...' - Former Indian Bowler Predicts RCB Will Retain Only One Player For IPL 2025

Virat Kohli in IPL 2024( Source: @ViratGang/x.com)Virat Kohli in IPL 2024( Source: @ViratGang/x.com)

Former Indian cricketer RP Singh has made a bold prediction regarding Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) strategy for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction. In a recent discussion on Colors Cineplex, Singh opined that RCB might choose to retain only their star player, Virat Kohli, ahead of the auction while releasing the rest of the squad.

On Saturday, September 28, the IPL Governing Council announced new player retention regulations for the next three seasons. According to the new rule, the franchises can retain six players, with a maximum of five capped players, through either retention or the Right to Match (RTM) card option.

RP Singh Suggests RCB To Only Retain Virat Kohli Ahead Of IPL 2025 Auction

RP Singh suggested that RCB could release most of its squad to leverage the auction dynamics and the RTM card system. In which franchise can reacquire players at potentially lower prices. He emphasized that, apart from Virat Kohli, other players might not command a significantly higher price in the auction, allowing RCB to release them and bid strategically.

"I feel they don't have any problem. They will just retain Virat Kohli, release everyone else, and use the RTM. If we see the value taking Rajat Patidar as an example, will we get him for more or less than 11 crores at the auction?" he said.

RP Singh Comments On Siraj And Patidar's Retention

During the conversation, RP Singh specifically pointed out that the cost of retaining players like Rajat Patidar and Mohammed Siraj under the new IPL rules might not justify retaining them outright. Instead, RCB could release them and attempt to reacquire them at the auction, potentially at a lower price, using the RTM option if necessary.

"I feel you will get Rajat Patidar for fewer. So you get him back at the auction. Even if he reaches close to 11 crores, you have the RTM which you can use there," RP Singh observed.

He also addressed the case of Mohammed Siraj, a vital cog in RCB’s bowling unit. He questioned whether Siraj’s performance would justify a retention price close to ₹14 crore, suggesting that it’s unlikely Siraj would command such a high bid in the auction.

"Siraj, performance-wise, you will have to again judge whether you will get him close to 11 crores. I don't think Siraj will reach close to 14 crores. They will always have the option that if he reaches there, you can use the RTM," he added.

RP Singh believes that franchises like RCB could benefit from releasing players and then targeting them during the auction, particularly for players whose market value is expected to be lower than their retention cost.