Cricket

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to unveil its retention rules shortly, with the Governing Council (GC) convening in Bengaluru on Saturday. The official announcement is anticipated within the next few hours or by Sunday at the latest.Sources indicate that the decision to hold the GC meeting on Saturday was made at the last minute, with notices sent to members only on Friday evening. The retention rules may be presented at the general body meeting scheduled for Sunday before a formal announcement.The mega IPL auction is expected to take place in the Middle East in late November, and the GC meeting may also determine its date.Speculation has been rife regarding the retention rules, with estimates ranging from 2 to 8 players. The BCCI is likely to settle on a number between 5 and 6, including the Right to Match (RTM) option.The retention rules will have a significant impact on the upcoming auction, as teams will need to strategize their player acquisitions accordingly. The auction is expected to be highly competitive, with several high-profile players available.The IPL is one of the most popular cricket leagues in the world, attracting a massive fan base. The retention rules will play a crucial role in shaping the tournament's dynamics and ensuring a thrilling and unpredictable season.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its next mega auction, scheduled for November or December 2025. This highly anticipated event will witness a significant shift in player retention rules, with franchises reportedly allowed to retain up to five players ahead of the auction.According to sources close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the decision to increase the retention limit from four to five players aims to provide greater flexibility to franchises in building their squads. However, the Right To Match (RTM) option will not be available in this mega auction.This change in retention rules is expected to have a major impact on team strategies. Mumbai Indians, for instance, could potentially retain their star-studded lineup of Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and a fifth player of their choice.The IPL has held two mega auctions in the past decade, with four-year intervals in between. The first major auction was held in 2014, followed by the 2018 auction that marked the return of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings after their two-year suspensions.The 2021 mega auction was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in teams extending the contracts of their players for an additional year. The upcoming IPL mega sale is likely to be a two-day affair, similar to the previous auctions held in 2022, 2023, and 2024.While some franchises advocate for a larger retention cap of up to eight players, others prefer the existing limit of four or five. The optimal number of retained players remains a topic of debate among IPL teams.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its mega auction, and franchises are eagerly awaiting the BCCI's announcement on retention guidelines. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in particular, is keen to know the rules as they could determine the future of legendary captain MS Dhoni.According to reports, CSK has shortlisted five players for retention: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, and MS Dhoni. Notably absent from the list are Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, and Maheesh Theekshana.CSK's decision to let go of some of its top players is a bold move, especially considering Dhoni's potential retirement after the 2025 season. The franchise is reportedly hoping that the BCCI will reinstate the old rule that allowed teams to retain a retired player in the uncapped category.This rule, which was in place from 2008 to 2021, would allow Dhoni to be retained in the lowest-paying category. CSK has previously requested the BCCI to bring back this rule, but a decision is yet to be made.Dhoni's future in the IPL hinges on the BCCI's retention policy. If the old rule is reinstated, he could continue playing for CSK beyond the 2025 season. However, if the rule is not brought back, Dhoni's retirement could be imminent.The BCCI is expected to announce the retention guidelines soon, and CSK will be closely monitoring the decision. The franchise's future and Dhoni's legacy in the IPL could depend on the outcome.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its next mega auction, scheduled to take place in late November or early December 2025. The Board for Cricket Council of India (BCCI) is expected to release the rules and regulations for the auction in the coming days.The IPL has held two mega auctions in the past decade, with four-year intervals between them. The first major auction was held in 2014, followed by another in 2018, when the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings returned to the league after a two-year suspension.Sources close to the BCCI have confirmed that the upcoming mega auction is likely to be held over two days, similar to the 2022, 2023, and 2024 auctions. The auction will allow teams to rebuild their squads and acquire new talent ahead of the 2025 season.One of the key considerations for the auction is the number of players that teams will be allowed to retain. In the 2022 mega auction, teams were permitted to retain up to four players. However, there are differing opinions among franchises about the optimal number of retained players for the 2025 auction. Some teams advocate for a larger retention cap, possibly up to eight players, while others prefer the existing limit of four or five.The BCCI is expected to finalize the retention rules and other auction details in the coming weeks. The auction will be a crucial event for the IPL, as it will shape the composition of teams and the competitive landscape of the league for the next three years.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), a young franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has appointed former India pacer Zaheer Khan as its mentor ahead of the upcoming mega auction. LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, impressed by Zaheer's experience as a player, coach, and strategist, hired him in the last two weeks."We are very excited to have him on board. We do believe he will do wonders for the future of LSG," said Goenka at a press conference.Zaheer, who previously worked with Mumbai Indians, acknowledged LSG's potential despite its short existence. "The building blocks are in place," he said. "The consistency you see in reaching the playoffs is something which is so tough in this fierce competition. That is something which gives me a lot of confidence when I'm looking at coming and contributing to this franchise's success."Zaheer emphasized his role in fostering a culture of open communication and decision-making. "I'll make sure a process which is required for each and every individual to express themselves freely, to bring a lot of victories to the franchise and the decision making which is so crucial. I think those are the aspects which we'll be closely looking at. I'm looking to build that culture, that mindset at LSG to (help it) go to the next level," said Zaheer, who will also serve as the bowling coach.Goenka refrained from providing details about the possible team composition, citing the BCCI's upcoming announcement of its player retention policy for the mega auction. However, he expressed confidence in LSG captain K.L. Rahul, stating that he is "like family" and will continue to play an important role.Coach Justin Langer, assistant coach Lance Klusener, and fielding coach Jonty Rhodes will remain with the team.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction is approaching, and the fate of MS Dhoni's participation remains uncertain. The legendary cricketer has not yet announced his retirement, but speculations are rife that he may call it quits after the upcoming season.Dhoni's age (43) and recent retirement from international cricket suggest that he is nearing the end of his playing career. Retaining him as a player would consume one of the limited slots available to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise ahead of the auction.CSK is reportedly seeking the reinstatement of a rule that would allow international players with over five years of retirement to be classified as "uncapped." This would enable them to retain Dhoni as an "uncapped" player, freeing up a "capped" player slot for another potential talent.Ravichandran Ashwin, a former CSK teammate of Dhoni, has weighed in on the matter. He believes that Dhoni's status as an "uncapped" player is technically correct, but questions whether it is appropriate for a player of his caliber to be classified as such.Dhoni's future with CSK is further complicated by the team's recent leadership transition. He stepped down as captain before the start of the 2023 season, handing over the reins to Ruturaj Gaikwad. While CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs, Gaikwad's leadership showed promise.The CSK management faces a difficult decision. Retaining Dhoni as a player would provide stability and experience, but it could also limit their options in the auction. Excluding him would be a tough call, given his legendary status and contributions to the franchise.The IPL mega auction is scheduled to take place in December 2023. Until then, the uncertainty surrounding Dhoni's future will continue to cast a shadow over CSK's preparations for the upcoming season.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is facing a major dilemma ahead of the upcoming season: whether to hold a mega auction. The issue was the central topic of a recent meeting between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the 10 IPL franchises.The meeting, held at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, ended inconclusively, with no consensus reached on the mega auction. According to Cricbuzz, several franchise owners, including Kolkata Knight Riders' Shah Rukh Khan, are opposed to holding an auction. This was confirmed by Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal, who also noted that the teams are divided on the Impact Player rule.The mega auction, if held, would determine the number of player retentions allowed for each franchise. If the BCCI decides against an auction, retentions may not be necessary.Another point of contention was the number of retentions. The franchise owners could not agree on a specific number. Reportedly, Shah Rukh Khan and Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia engaged in a heated argument over the issue, with Khan advocating for major retentions and Wadia opposing them.Regarding the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during a match, Jindal expressed his disapproval. He believes it hinders the development of genuine all-rounders in Indian cricket.Other IPL owners present at the meeting included Kiran Kumar Grandhi (Delhi Capitals), Sanjiv Goenka (Lucknow Super Giants), Rupa Gurunath (Chennai Super Kings), Kavya Maran (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Manoj Badale (Rajasthan Royals), Amit Soni (Gujarat Titans), and Prathmesh Mishra (Royal Challengers Bengaluru). The Ambani family of Mumbai Indians attended via video conferencing.The BCCI is expected to make a decision on the mega auction and other issues in the coming weeks. The outcome will have a significant impact on the IPL's upcoming season.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Indian Premier League (IPL) owners will convene on Wednesday at the Wankhede Stadium complex to discuss player retentions ahead of the upcoming mega auction.Key Points of Discussion:* Retentions: Franchises are expected to retain a maximum of five or six players, with a potential increase in the frequency of mega auctions from three to five years.* Increased Purse: The auction purse may be raised to Rs 130-140 crore from the current Rs 90 crore.* Performance-Based Increments: Players may receive performance-based increments.* Uncapped Player Retention: Franchises may be allowed to retain two or three uncapped players under a separate slot.Uncapped Players in Demand:Several franchises have expressed interest in retaining uncapped players who have shown promise in recent seasons. These include:* Mumbai Indians: Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Akash Madhwal* Kolkata Knight Riders: Vaibhav Arora, Ramandeep Singh, Suyash Sharma* Punjab Kings: Harpreet Brar, Ashutosh Sharma, Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh* Chennai Super Kings: Mukesh Chaudhary, Simarjeet Singh, Sameer Rizvi* Sunrisers Hyderabad: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abdul Samad* Royal Challengers Bangalore: Yash Dayal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror* Lucknow Super Giants: Mayank Yadav, Mohsin KhanOther Considerations:* The Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during the match, is likely to continue in IPL 2025.* One Right-to-Match card may be introduced this season.

The future of legendary cricketer MS Dhoni in the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains uncertain as the league prepares for a mega auction ahead of the 2025 season. Dhoni, who stepped down as captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) before the start of the 2024 season, has not yet confirmed his plans to continue playing.According to reports, Dhoni's continuity in the league as a player depends on the retention policy set by the IPL management and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). With a mega auction scheduled, there is speculation that the BCCI may allow franchises to retain a limited number of players.If the BCCI allows the retention of only 3-4 players per franchise, it is unlikely that Dhoni will be retained by CSK. However, if the retention limit is increased to 5-6 players, Dhoni's experience and leadership could make him a valuable asset for the franchise.Currently, CSK's most likely retention candidates include skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, and all-rounder Shivam Dube. The order of retention could vary depending on the team's priorities.The IPL bosses have reportedly invited franchise owners for a meeting on July 31 to discuss the retention matter. IPL CEO Hemang Amin has sent text messages to the owners, indicating that the meeting will likely take place in the late afternoon or evening at the Cricket Centre in Mumbai.Sources suggest that the BCCI may allow the retention of 5-6 players per franchise, which could open the door for Dhoni's continued involvement in the IPL. However, the final decision will depend on the outcome of the meeting between the IPL management and the franchise owners.