Cricket

Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal has revealed that the team will definitely retain captain Rishabh Pant ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced new retention rules, allowing franchises to retain a maximum of six players, including one Right-To-Match (RTM) option.Jindal emphasized the importance of retaining key players, stating that the team has several talented individuals. He mentioned Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Kuldeep Yadav, Abishek Porel, Mukesh Kumar, and Khaleel Ahmed as potential candidates for retention."We have some very good players in our team. The rules have come out now, so after discussing with GMR and our director of cricket, Sourav Ganguly, decisions will be made. Rishabh Pant will definitely be retained," Jindal said.However, Jindal did not mention Australia's David Warner, who has been a key player for Delhi Capitals in the past. The new retention rules classify players who have not represented India in the past five years as 'uncapped,' allowing them to be retained at a lower price.This rule could benefit Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who are likely to retain former captain MS Dhoni under this category. Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020 but last played for India in 2019.The deadline for franchises to submit their retention lists is October 31. Delhi Capitals will carefully consider their options and aim to build a strong team for the upcoming IPL season.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has released its guidelines for player retention, sparking discussions among experts on which players franchises should prioritize ahead of the mega auction. With six players allowed for retention, including Right-To-Match, tough decisions lie ahead for teams.For Mumbai Indians (MI), the future of former skipper Rohit Sharma is a major talking point. However, former India batter Aakash Chopra believes MI should also make a crucial call on current captain Hardik Pandya.While many expect Hardik to be MI's top retention, Chopra argues that Jasprit Bumrah should take that spot. He considers Bumrah the No. 1 pick across all IPL teams, making him the top priority for MI as well."The most difficult thing is to retain the Indian core. MI and CSK have won five trophies each, and both have had strong Indian cores. Overseas players can be replaced, but Indian players are harder to find. Can you tell me a like-for-like replacement for Jasprit Bumrah?" Chopra said.Regarding Hardik, Chopra suggests he could be MI's fourth pick. Suryakumar Yadav could be the second choice (in the INR 14 crore category), while Rohit, Tilak Varma, and Ishan Kishan would compete for the remaining spots."Indian retentions for Mumbai Indians seem straightforward. Hardik, Surya, Bumrah, you have three. After that, I think they will discuss with Rohit Sharma about the next step. It's anybody's guess after what has transpired. Whether he will stay in Mumbai or go elsewhere, I think it will also be his will. I think that will be a discussion. And then Ishan Kishan or Tilak Varma," he added."The interesting aspect will be the order of retention. Who will be the first, who will be the second and all that? Jasprit Bumrah is my No. 1 retention. He will be the first retention in the overall IPL, across all teams. If Bumrah is your first, then you have captain Hardik Pandya. He can be your fourth retention (Rs 18 crore). Then you have India's T20I captain, he is Suryakumar Yadav. He will be come in Rs 14 crore category. Then you have Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma. Then there is the wicketkeeper-batter batter in Ishan Kishan, whom you retained for Rs 15 or Rs 15.5 crore. It's going to be a tough one."Tim David and Piyush Chawla are also potential retention candidates for MI. While Chawla fits well in the uncapped player category, David's chances of being retained remain uncertain.

Star India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has made a resounding statement in the ongoing 1st Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. In his first Test appearance since December 2022, Pant smashed his 6th Test century, scoring 109 runs in the second innings.Pant's performance has come amidst speculation about his future at Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, it has now been reported that the 26-year-old is set to be retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL mega auction.According to Cricbuzz, Pant met with DC co-owner Parth Jindal in Mumbai before the 1st Test to finalize his contract talks. The report suggests that Pant may receive an improved contract, having been retained by DC for Rs 16 crore in the 2022 mega auction."Pant's current IPL salary is INR 16 crore, but this figure is expected to go up based on the total player purse allowed to a franchise and the retention fee guidelines set by the BCCI," the report states.DC's co-owners, the GMR and JSW Groups, have reportedly finalized other retention decisions as well. If the BCCI allows more than five player retentions, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to be kept, along with overseas players Jake Fraser-McGurk and Tristan Stubbs. Additionally, 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Abhishek Porel may be retained as an uncapped player.Pant made his return to competitive cricket in the IPL earlier this year, leading DC to a sixth-placed finish. The IPL 2025 mega auction is expected to be a two-day affair held overseas in November or December this year.The BCCI is yet to announce the official retention rules, but it is anticipated that the announcement will be made soon.

IPL Retention Debate: Raina and Rayudu Advocate for Increased Player RetentionAhead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, former IPL stalwarts Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu have called for a significant increase in player retention. They argue that maintaining a stable core is essential for teams' success in the highly competitive tournament.During the last mega auction in 2022, IPL teams were permitted to retain up to four players. However, as the three-year cycle draws to a close, there is a growing consensus that this number is insufficient. Some teams are advocating for the retention of up to eight players, while others believe four or five would be more appropriate."Personally, I feel retentions have to be a lot more because a franchise invests a lot on players," said Rayudu. "The core of the team is what makes every team unique in the IPL. The longer the core remains, the culture of the team remains, and there is a greater chance of success."Raina, Rayudu's former Chennai Super Kings teammate, echoed these sentiments. "I 100 percent agree with Rayudu," he said. "The mega auction should be every three years. The IPL Governing Council will do what is best for the game."The issue of player retention has become a hot topic of discussion as franchises prepare for the next mega auction in December. Teams are eager to secure the services of their key players and build a strong foundation for the upcoming seasons.The IPL Governing Council is yet to make a decision on the number of players that can be retained. However, the views of Raina and Rayudu, two of the most experienced and successful players in IPL history, are likely to carry significant weight in the decision-making process.