IPL Retentions: Focus on futures of Shreyas, Rahul, Pant as deadline approaches
"It's hard not to be romantic about baseball. This kind of thing, it's fun for the fans. It sells tickets and hot dogs..." says a character in Hollyhood hit Money Ball, a movie about Oakland Athletics' dream run and record-breaking 20-game win streak in the Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 2002 season. It's not difficult to romanticise the IPL either.
Rather than the MLB, the IPL is inspired by the NFL model, a highly successful football league in the US. Unlike the MLB, the NFL has a salary cap and ensures a level-playing field and the IPL - highly popular with an electrifying atmosphere, immensely profitable with players also making fast bucks - has adopted that model.
Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has gone from strength to strength. This year, however, some questions are being raised about the validity of some rules and it is being contended that the new rules contravene the IPL's founding principles. Ahead of the retention deadline, which ends in a few hours from now, there is a raging debate.
This concern revolves around the new Right To Match (RTM) clause, allowing a franchise to raise a bid to a substantial pre-agreed amount. The teams contend that if nine franchises collectively determine a player's market value, the 10th team should not have the special power to unilaterally inflate that price to a different level.
The debate among franchises - some of whom have even approached the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) - is whether this clause is justified. They argue once the price has been increased, the right granted to a team through the RTM clause would be denied, rather than upheld.
The BCCI, however, sees no merit in their objection and views it as a seriously player-friendly rule. There will be no review of the clause, which, it is rumoured, is the brainchild of a current international player. The BCCI has adopted it straightaway.
As for the specifics of the retention, there is a common thread that connects Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, David Warner, Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer. What could that be? All are IPL-winning captains, with an odd man out -- Shreyas. He may have the unique distinction of not playing for the side he led to the championship. As reported by @L0$, he is not being retained by Kolkata Knight Riders, the three-time champions.
With the deadline for finalising retentions nearing, a key issue facing the IPL franchises is the stance of certain players demanding amounts beyond what teams believe is their actual value. In addition to Shreyas, former captain KL Rahul is on the release list, sparking a debate over players potentially seeking assurances from franchises for high premium prices in the auction.
@B0$
The big question ahead of the deadline is about Rishab Pant. There has been hectic efforts and pressure on the wicketkeeper batter to sign off for the Capitals but there are still issues between the two parties, rather parties - the player and the two owners, GMR and JSW. Pant is believed to have made a few demands but the owners are not exactly comfortable with them. Things are expected to clear by Thursday morning.
@B1$
The team that looks most sorted at this stage are Sunrisers Hyderabad. It is understood that they have already submitted their retention. As reported by Cricbuzz @L1$, Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy have joined the three players signed on before.
@B2$: Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Nitish Kumar Reddy
@B3$
The Lucknow team looks as sorted as SRH. This website had @L2$ about their five potential retentions. Marcus Stoinis may be acquired through RTM. They will let go of KL Rahul, their captain from last season.
@B4$Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni (uncapped), Mohsin Khan (uncapped)
Marcus Stoinis/Krunal Pandya (to be acquired through RTM)
@B5$
Who are the players that the five-time champions will keep has been a secret. With some of the biggest stars in their ranks, it may not be difficult to arrive at their retention list.
@B6$Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, SuryaKumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir (uncapped)
@B7$
As is being reported, there is a lingering doubt over Pant. Sources say, a meeting is scheduled between him and the owners later in the day and the management is confident of succeeding in convincing the star wicketkeeper-batter. It is being speculated that Delhi will hotly pursue Shreyas Iyer, who is being released by Kolkata Knight Riders.
@B8$: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abhishek Porel (uncapped)
@B9$
The defending champions have decided not to retain skipper Shreyas Iyer, as @L3$. Shreyas came across as a hard bargainer and the Knight Riders have decided to move on from him. Unlike many, the Knight Riders will go with the RTM options, retaining only a few. Andre Russell is not among those few, but could be the one they use their RTM option for.
@B10$: Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ramandeep Singh (uncapped)
@B11$
Another team that is most sorted are Chennai Super Kings. This website recently reported that air over MS Dhoni's participation in the league @L4$ and their list has been finalised.
@B12$: Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (uncapped)
@B13$
The Titans were in a disarray for a long time with uncertainty over their coaching staff. Now that it is settled that Ashish Nehra and Vikram Solanki will continue, there are indications about their thinking. The players worthy of retention are clear but the big question before them is value for Rahul Tewatia. As an uncapped player, he can be asked to take INR 4 crore but he was bought by the franchise in 2022 for Rs 9 crore. It will be a big decision for them to make just as price for Rashid Khan, whose UK-based agents are known to be hard at bargaining. Due to his injury, Mohammed Shami is not in the team's considerations for retentions.
@B14$: Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, Sai Sudarshan, Rahul Tewatia (uncapped), Shahrukh Khan (uncapped)
@B15$
Not much has come out from RCB quarters but it is likely that Virat Kohli will be retained for a high price. The other names, potentially, could be Yash Dayal and Rajat Patidar. Mohammed Siraj, who was retained last time in 2022, may miss out this time. Cameron Green would have been one for consideration but the fact that he is injured and the return date is uncertain, the Aussie all-rounder misses out.
@B16$Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal (uncapped)
@B17$
The Royals have a lot to choose from but the grapevine is they are unlikely to go for Jos Buttler. The rest are obvious names.
@B18$: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Sandeep Sharma (uncapped)
@B19$
As always, the Punjab Kings will go with the highest purse. Although they have a long list of players who are worthy of retention, it is being said that they will go for only two uncapped names. They are unlikely to retain even Arshdeep Singh. They feel he can be bought with a lesser price than INR 18 crore that is suggested for top retention. The grapevine is that new coach Ricky Ponting will try to buy Steve Smith in the auction and make him the skipper.
@B20$: Shashank Singh (uncapped), Prabhsimran Singh (uncapped)