Cricket

The Mumbai Indians (MI), a powerhouse in the Indian Premier League (IPL), are gearing up for the 2025 mega auction with a strategic plan and a substantial auction purse. The auction, scheduled for November 24-25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will be a battleground for teams seeking to revamp their squads for the upcoming season.MI, after a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw them finish last in the 10-team league, will enter the auction with Rs 45 crore remaining in their purse. The five-time IPL champions aim to bolster their squad by acquiring key players across various departments. They also possess one strategic Right to Match (RTM) card, allowing them to potentially retain a player by matching the highest bid during the auction.In preparation for the mega auction, MI has retained five key players who form the backbone of their team. These retentions have consumed a significant portion of their total auction budget of Rs 120 crore. The retained players and their respective salaries are as follows:* Jasprit Bumrah: Rs 18 crore* Suryakumar Yadav: Rs 16.35 crore* Hardik Pandya: Rs 16.35 crore* Rohit Sharma: Rs 16.30 crore* Tilak Varma: Rs 8 croreThese retentions have cost MI a total of Rs 75 crore, leaving them with Rs 45 crore to spend at the auction. These players bring a wealth of experience and talent, with Bumrah as the bowling spearhead and Suryakumar Yadav, India's T20I captain, leading their dynamic batting lineup. Notably, Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from T20 Internationals after leading India to a T20 World Cup win, remains a pivotal figure for MI despite stepping down as captain. His leadership duties have been handed over to Hardik Pandya, who returned to MI after a stint as Gujarat Titans' captain.With Rs 45 crore in hand, MI will target crucial areas in their squad. They will aim to rebuild after a poor 2024 season, focusing on reinforcing both their batting depth and bowling attack. The presence of an RTM card gives them added flexibility to bring back a former player who might attract high bids.After five retentions, MI have a minimum of 13 slots and a maximum of 20 slots available to fill. Mumbai Indians will have several important slots to fill during the auction, with a focus likely on securing few world-class overseas talents and uncapped Indian cricketers. Additionally, MI could look to bolster their bowling unit to support Jasprit Bumrah, particularly with spinners and pacers who can adapt to different conditions.Having retained their core group of stars, including their new skipper Hardik Pandya and the explosive Suryakumar Yadav, MI now have the challenge of finding the right balance in the rest of their squad to return to their winning ways in 2025.

KL Rahul's Omission from Lucknow Super Giants Raises QuestionsAhead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have made their player retentions, notably excluding star batter KL Rahul. This decision has sparked discussions and raised questions about the reasons behind Rahul's departure.LSG's retained players include Nicholas Pooran (Rs 21 crore), Ravi Bishnoi (Rs 11 crore), Mayank Yadav (Rs 11 crore), Mohsin Khan (Rs 4 crore), and Ayush Badoni (Rs 4 crore). Owner Sanjiv Goenka explained the team's retention strategy, emphasizing the importance of players who prioritize team success over personal aspirations."We wanted players who have a mindset to win, who put the team before their personal goals and personal aspirations," Goenka said. "Our first retention was an automatic choice, and we have two uncapped retentions in Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni."However, Goenka's comments have been met with criticism on social media, with many questioning the exclusion of Rahul, who has been a key player for LSG in the past. Some have suggested that Rahul's batting style, which has been criticized for its slow strike rate, may have influenced the decision.According to a source quoted by PTI, Rahul's batting style was indeed a factor in his non-retention. "Rahul's SR for three years with LSG is 136.13, 113.23, and 135.38," the source said. "In today's T20, when even the Indian team had to change its philosophy, these numbers weren't acceptable."Rahul's departure from LSG leaves a significant void in the team's batting lineup. He has been a consistent performer for the franchise, scoring 616 runs in 2022 and 520 runs in 2023. His leadership skills have also been praised, as he captained LSG to the playoffs in both seasons.It remains to be seen how LSG will fill the void left by Rahul's absence. The team will have the opportunity to acquire new players through the IPL auction, which is scheduled to take place in December 2024.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Owner Advocates for Increased Player Retentions and Auction Transparency in IPLSunrisers Hyderabad owner Kavya Maran has proposed a significant change to the Indian Premier League (IPL) player retention system ahead of the 2025 season. During the IPL owners' meeting at the BCCI Headquarters, Maran called for an increase in the number of player retentions or Right To Match (RTM) options for each team.Maran believes that expanding the retention options to six would allow teams to preserve the core of their squads and avoid potential player discontent. She suggested that teams could utilize the options as four retentions and two RTMS, all six retentions, or all six RTMS."The choice on whether a retention or RTM is used should be with the franchise based on discussions with the player," Maran explained. "This would give players the chance to either be retained or RTM at the market discovered price, ensuring that they are not disgruntled about the retention amount."Maran also highlighted the potential for side contracts between franchises and retained players if only retentions are allowed. She argued that RTMs would ensure that players receive market value within the restrictions of the purse, promoting transparency and maintaining the integrity of the IPL.In addition to the retention proposal, Maran also advocated for a ban on players who fail to appear for the tournament despite being selected in the auction. "After being selected in the auction, if a player doesn't come to play the season for any reason apart from injury, he should be banned," she said.Maran's proposals were met with mixed reactions from other IPL owners. Some expressed support for the increased retention options, while others raised concerns about the potential impact on the auction process. The BCCI is expected to consider the proposals and make a decision in the coming months.

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 Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its upcoming mega auction, and the league's franchise owners and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials are set to meet on July 31 in Mumbai to discuss the modalities.The meeting will focus on crucial decisions regarding player retentions and the Right to Match (RTM) card. Franchise executives have been informally discussing the best possible scenarios for player retentions, with varying demands ranging from a solitary retention to a maximum of eight.The RTM card, which allows teams to match the highest bid for a released player, is also a topic of debate. A majority of franchises are in favor of reintroducing the RTM option, which was last used in 2018.Some franchises are also proposing extending the mega-auction cycle from the current three years to five years. This move is aimed at providing security to players, allowing franchises to build and market their squads effectively, and serving the interests of the BCCI.Additionally, some franchises are suggesting incremental contracts for cricketers, especially Indians, during a cycle. Currently, retained players cannot be officially paid for the next season, leading to some players taking the risk of being released and entering the auction pool for a purse correction. The franchises believe that a transparent process for renegotiating with players would benefit both parties.The IPL's mega auction is a significant event that shapes the composition of teams and the dynamics of the league. The decisions made at the upcoming meeting will have a major impact on the future of the IPL and the careers of many cricketers.