Cricket

With the IPL 2025 auction fast approaching, the retention lists of all 10 franchises are set to be finalized. Amidst the speculation surrounding the availability of big names like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, another IPL-winning captain may be entering the auction pool: Shreyas Iyer.According to ESPN Cricinfo, it is an open secret that Kolkata Knight Riders' skipper Iyer is considering a move after receiving a lucrative offer from a rival franchise. The deadline for submitting retention lists is October 31st, ahead of the mega auction expected to take place in the last week of November.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to announce the official date and venue for the auction. However, two contradictory reports have emerged. Times of India suggests the auction will be held in Dubai on November 30th, while Sportstar claims it will be a two-day event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 24th and 25th.Riyadh is reportedly the frontrunner due to its favorable time zone. The BCCI and IPL officials are finalizing the venue that can accommodate the large entourage of franchise delegations, Jio, and Disney Star representatives over three days.Iyer's potential availability in the auction pool would create a significant buzz. The 28-year-old led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their second IPL title in 2021 and has established himself as one of the most consistent batters in the league. His departure from KKR would open up a leadership vacancy and spark intense competition among franchises seeking a proven captain.The IPL 2025 auction promises to be a thrilling event, with several big names potentially up for grabs. Iyer's availability would add another layer of intrigue and could significantly impact the dynamics of the league.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to witness a surge of top Indian cricketers entering the upcoming player auction, thanks to a significant alteration in the retention rules. The deadline for player retention is fast approaching, and the IPL circles are abuzz with frantic activity.The IPL authorities have deviated from the previous practice of reducing the "lesser amount" if a player's retention price exceeds the designated price for the slot. This time around, if the amount is equal to or greater than the designated price, the "higher of the two" amounts will be deducted from the player's purse.For example, in the 2022 auction, the highest price band for a player retention was Rs. 15 crore. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were retained by their respective franchises for Rs. 17 crore and Rs. 16 crore, respectively. However, since the cap for the top player was Rs. 15 crore, only Rs. 15 crore was reduced from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (then Bangalore) and Mumbai Indians' auction kitty.In the upcoming 2025 retention, Sunrisers Hyderabad is likely to retain Heinrich Klaasen (Rs. 23 crore), Pat Cummins (Rs. 18 crore), and Abhishek Sharma (Rs. 14 crore). If this happens, despite the combined designated kitty for the top three retentions being Rs. 43 crore (Rs. 18 crore, Rs. 14 crore, and Rs. 11 crore), Rs. 55 crore will be reduced from the SRH's auction purse of Rs. 120 crore.This rule change, combined with the additional bid offered to the highest bidder while using the Right to Match card, has resulted in Indian cricketers seeking amounts much higher than the anticipated brackets by the franchises. As a result, stars like Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL-winning captain), Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals skipper), Kuldeep Yadav (DC spinner), and Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings) may throw their hat in the auction pool.Contrary to this trend, Mumbai Indians is set to retain four of its top Indian stars – Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya. While this will severely hamper its auction purse, the MI management is understood to have arrived at an agreement with the quartet.Punjab Kings may well enter the auction with Rs. 112 crore, the largest purse, since it is likely to retain only two uncapped cricketers. While Shashank Singh is a certainty, either Prabhsimran Singh or Ashutosh Sharma is likely to be retained.

With the IPL player retention deadline looming, franchises are strategizing their rosters for the upcoming cycle. For the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the focus remains on Virat Kohli, but beyond that, the team faces a dilemma.RCB retained Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj ahead of the 2022 mega auction. However, Siraj's recent struggles and Maxwell's poor 2024 performance raise questions about their value. Skipper Faf Du Plessis' age (40) also presents a concern.Cameron Green, acquired from Mumbai Indians, is unlikely to be retained due to his recent back surgery. Dinesh Karthik's retirement leaves a void in the finisher role, while Rajat Patidar's potential may not warrant a significant investment.This leaves RCB with the need to rebuild at the mega auction. The Right to Match (RTM) option remains, but premium costs make it unlikely for multiple retentions. The team's priority is finding a long-term captain.Over the years, RCB has neglected local Bengaluru players. Devdutt Padikkal was the last consistent local talent, while Vyshak Vijay Kumar has played sparingly. Government pressure may force the franchise to prioritize Karnataka players in the auction.One potential target is KL Rahul, who fits the bill as a top-order batter, captaincy candidate, and local player. However, his availability depends on his relationship with the Lucknow Supergiants. If Rahul becomes available, RCB could face intense competition for his services.For RCB, the preparations revolve around Virat Kohli, with the rest of the roster to be determined at the auction. The team's future success hinges on finding the right balance of experience and potential.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is approaching its 2025-27 cycle, and franchises are facing uncertainty in finalizing player retentions due to ambiguities in the IPL Player Regulations 2025-27 Key Points document released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).The document outlines the Retention/Right to Match (RTM) process, but a footnote has raised questions. It states that the overall retention deduction will be Rs 75 crore, regardless of the amount paid to individual players. However, if the total amount exceeds Rs 75 crore, the actual amount will be deducted.This has led to confusion among franchises. They are unsure whether they can retain players at different prices than those specified in the document (Player 1: Rs 18 crore, Player 2: Rs 14 crore, Player 3: Rs 11 crore, Player 4: Rs 18 crore, Player 5: Rs 14 crore)."What are they trying to say here? It has left us confused too. Does this mean that any price tag can be followed while retaining players? And if the total price of retentions exceeds Rs 75 crore then that would be deducted from the Salary Cap. If it's a free hand for the franchises to use their own prices for different retentions then what are the 18, 14 and 11 markers for?," questioned a senior official at a franchise.The footnote also states that if the total retention amount is less than Rs 75 crore, Rs 75 crore will still be deducted. This has further perplexed franchises."So they are trying to imply that one can retain Player 2 and 3 for a cheaper price than 14 and 11? A lot of clarity is needed because it is the most important piece of the puzzle and we have already asked for more clarification and explanation from the board," added the official.With the retention deadline approaching on October 31, franchises are eagerly awaiting a comprehensive Player Guidelines document that will provide detailed explanations of the regulations. They hope that the BCCI will release this document in the coming days to enable them to make informed decisions about player retentions.

MS Dhoni's future in the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains uncertain as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have yet to initiate talks with the legendary wicketkeeper-batter regarding his potential retention as a player. However, a recent report suggests that the two parties are scheduled to meet in mid-October to discuss the matter.The IPL Governing Council's decision to reinstate the rule allowing retired Indian players to be selected as uncapped players has opened up the possibility for CSK to retain Dhoni in the INR 4 crore category, freeing up funds for other players ahead of the auction.According to Cricbuzz, Dhoni has returned from his US trip and is expected to hold talks with CSK in the coming weeks. The ten IPL franchises are permitted to retain up to six players from their IPL 2024 squad, including a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players.Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja believes Dhoni's retention is a foregone conclusion. "MS Dhoni for sure. There's no doubt about that, especially because he's now an uncapped player. He's done a lot for the team and has no desire to be treated as the No. 1 player on the squad. His value is unquestioned."Ruturaj Gaikwad, the current CSK captain, and Ravindra Jadeja are also expected to be retained. Ex-India batter Aakash Chopra suggests that CSK may use the Right to Match (RTM) card to acquire Deepak Chahar, depending on his fitness."I don't think they'll retain five players. They might go for 3-4. I see two players worth 18 CR in Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja. If you want to keep them, you have to match that price. Other than that, they have MS Dhoni, Shivam Dube, and Matheesha Pathirana.""I think they'll keep Dube and use the RTM card for Deepak Chahar, maybe, depending on his fitness. The price for these players is really high, so the RTM card could be useful to get players for cheaper. If Dube is sold in the auction, he might fetch over 10 or 11 crores."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently introduced revised retention rules for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, sparking concerns among franchises over the Right to Match (RTM) process.The new rules grant the highest bidder an additional opportunity to increase their bid before the team holding the RTM card can exercise their right. This has raised concerns that the RTM's purpose of determining a player's market value is being undermined.According to a report by Cricbuzz, franchises are apprehensive about the potential for arbitrary bids by the highest bidder. The new rule allows the highest bidder to increase their bid by any amount, which the team with the RTM must then match."The highest bidder will be given one final opportunity to raise their bid for a player before the team holding the RTM card can exercise their right," states the new rule circulated by the BCCI.For instance, if Team 1 holds the RTM for Player X and Team 2 has placed the highest bid of Rs. 6 Cr, Team 1 will be asked if they will exercise RTM. If Team 1 agrees, Team 2 will have the chance to increase their bid. If Team 2 raises their bid to Rs. 9 Cr, Team 1 can use the RTM and acquire Player X for Rs. 9 Cr. However, if Team 2 chooses not to raise the bid and keeps it at Rs. 6 Cr, Team 1 can use the RTM and get Player X for Rs. 6 Cr.Franchises argue that this new rule may discourage them from using the RTM option and push them towards more retentions. They believe that the RTM's aim is to determine a player's market value, but the new rule makes them match potentially arbitrary bids.Some franchises have formally written to the BCCI expressing their concerns, while others have discussed them with BCCI officials. Critics also suggest that the new rule may counteract the BCCI's goal to attract star players to the auction.

MS Dhoni's Future with CSK: Jadeja Believes Icon Unlikely to Seek Top RetentionFormer India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja has expressed his belief that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon MS Dhoni has no desire to be retained as the top pick ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction.The IPL governing council recently announced new player retention rules, allowing teams to retain up to six players, including one uncapped player. This has raised speculation about Dhoni's future with CSK, given his status as an uncapped player.However, Jadeja believes that CSK should have no hesitation in retaining Dhoni, citing his immense contributions to the franchise. "MS Dhoni for sure. There's no doubt about that, especially because he's now an uncapped player. He's done a lot for the team and has no desire to be treated as the No. 1 player on the squad. His value is unquestioned," Jadeja said on Jio Cinema.Jadeja also suggested that CSK should prioritize retaining captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. "Ruturaj Gaikwad is the captain, and he's had a good year, so you'll hope to retain him as well. Ravindra Jadeja can't be left out either, so these three, I think, are perfect for them," he added.Former India batter Aakash Chopra echoed Jadeja's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of retaining Gaikwad and Jadeja. "I don't think they'll (CSK) retain five players. They might go for 3-4. I see two players worth 18 crore in Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja. If you want to keep them, you have to match that price," Chopra said.With the IPL mega auction approaching, CSK faces a crucial decision regarding Dhoni's future. While the franchise has remained tight-lipped, Jadeja's comments suggest that Dhoni may be willing to take a backseat and allow younger players to lead the team.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction is set to be a pivotal event for all 10 franchises. With a mega auction on the horizon, teams must carefully consider their retention strategies to build competitive squads.According to the BCCI, franchises can retain a maximum of six players, either through retention or the Right to Match (RTM) option. The combination of retentions and RTMs can include up to five capped players (Indian or overseas) and two uncapped players. The auction purse for each franchise has been set at INR 120 Crore.For five-time champions Mumbai Indians, who endured a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign, the upcoming auction holds immense significance. The team boasts a star-studded roster, including Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma. However, the franchise faces a crucial decision regarding player retention.Former IPL-winning coach Tom Moody has expressed his reservations about Hardik Pandya's potential retention at the highest price of INR 18 crore. Moody believes that Pandya's recent struggles with fitness and performance may not warrant such a high valuation."When you dissect all of those areas with Hardik Pandya, does he deserve to be an 18 crore player? Is he worth it? If you've got to be an 18 crore player, you've got to be a genuine match-winner and do it regularly," Moody said.Moody also highlighted Mumbai Indians' past struggles at the auction table, particularly in retaining players at inflated prices. He cited the examples of Ishan Kishan and Jofra Archer, who failed to deliver consistent returns despite their hefty price tags."They've had a little bit of a problem at the auction table the last couple of years. They've gotten caught up in a way too loyal in some cases and tried to retain, or get players back into their squad, which has cost them dearly," Moody said.The Mumbai Indians management will have to make some tough decisions regarding player retention. They must balance loyalty with performance and value for money to build a squad capable of challenging for the IPL title in 2025.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has introduced a new retention formula that will require teams to pay a higher price for retaining more players. The formula, which can be described as 'pay more to retain more', stipulates that teams will have to pay a higher price for their fourth and fifth retained players.The auction purse for each team has been increased to Rs 120 crore. For the first three retentions, the deductions will be Rs 18 crore, 14 crore, and 11 crore, respectively. This means that if a team chooses to retain more players, they will have less money available to spend in the auction.The fourth and fifth retention will cost the franchise the same amount as Player No. 1 and No. 2. The price for the uncapped player has been pegged at Rs 4 crore. In total, retaining six players will cost Rs 79 crore, leaving the franchise with Rs 41 crore to build the remainder of their squad.Under the new regulations, each franchise can retain up to six players using a combination of Retentions and the Right to Match (RTM) options, with no restriction on the number of overseas players that can be retained. Teams are allowed to retain a maximum of five capped players and up to two uncapped players.For Mumbai Indians, the priority would be to retain their star-studded Indian core, including captain Hardik Pandya, India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, former skipper Rohit Sharma, and one of the world's top fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah. These four players are likely to be the marquee picks for five-time champions MI, meaning the franchise will have to pay a significant sum to retain them.If Hardik and Surya are retained as the first and second players at Rs 18 crore and Rs 14 crore, respectively, then Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah would be retained as the fourth and fifth players at the same amounts as the first and second retentions. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who was the most expensive player at the last mega-auction in 2022, can be their third retention at Rs 11 crore.