RCB set to retain Virat Kohli and Maxwell, four-way battle for remaining two spots
The Royal Challengers Bangalore are highly likely to retain Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell before the mega auctions, it is learnt, with the other two slots having a four-way fight between Devdutt Padikkal, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel and Mohammed Siraj.
Siraj has risen the ranks rapidly to establish himself as one of the mainstays of the team, as has Chahal, while Padikkal has been the designated opener since his IPL debut in 2020. Harshal Patel, who made his T20I debut recently against New Zealand at home, topped the wicket-taking tally in 2021 IPL, with a record 32 wickets.
RCB also have the additional task of naming a new captain, after Kohli, leading them since 2013, decided to step down. He, however, clarified his intentions of wanting to continue with the team as he “can’t think of being in any other team apart from RCB”. Even though a title has eluded RCB under Kohli, he has been the face of RCB, and the association has been inseparable in many ways.
IPL retention rules
The existing teams cannot retain more than three Indians (capped or uncapped) and two overseas players, while a team can also not retain more than two uncapped players. On the other hand, the new franchises can pick two Indians (capped or uncapped), one overseas and one uncapped player each. There is no provision of Right to Match (RTM) card this year.
The teams will have an auction purse of INR 90 crores, with the eight existing franchises allowed to retain up to a maximum of four players. The two new teams – Lucknow and Ahmedabad – can pick three players once the existing teams decide which players they will retain and release others into the auction pool.
As for the funds, the existing teams can spend a maximum of INR 42 crore on retained players. If a franchise retains four players, the deductions from the salary cap will be INR 16 crore for Player 1, INR 12 crore for Player 2, INR 8 crore for Player 3 and INR 6 crore for Player 4.
If three players are retained, the deductions will be INR 15 crore for Player 1, INR 11 crore for Player 2 and INR 7 crore for Player 3. In the case of two players being retained, the sums are INR 14 crore and INR 10 crore, while for a solitary player, INR 14 crore will be deducted from the auction purse. The corresponding figures for new franchises for retaining three, two or one player(s) are the same.
Further, it is understood that the abovementioned sums are the minimum amounts that will be deducted from a franchise’s auction purse. However, if the player fee agreed with a retained player is more than the slab, then the higher amount will be deducted from the purse. On the contrary, if the player fee of a retained player is less than the slab, then an amount equal to the relevant sum set out above shall be deducted from the franchise’s purse.
The BCCI has asked the existing teams to retain the players latest by November 30, whereas the new teams have a window to pick a maximum of three non-retained players from December 1 to 25.
