(Image source from: x.com/IPL)
The Cricket Board of India (BCCI) will probably let IPL teams keep five players without the right to match them at the upcoming IPL auction. This means Mumbai Indians can retain their core group, including Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya. During a recent meeting, the BCCI discussed player retention with all 10 team owners, and most of them wanted to keep 5-6 players to ensure continuity. The BCCI has agreed to their request, believing that retaining up to five players will also protect the franchises' brand value. Previously, teams could keep a maximum of four players, with no more than three Indian and two overseas players. However, the BCCI has not yet clarified how many overseas players can be retained by each franchise. With the possibility of five players being retained, all attention is now on Mumbai Indians.
Over the past decade, after an underwhelming season under Pandya's leadership this year, it will be intriguing to see how they arrange their retained players. In 2022, when Mumbai retained four players, Rohit received the highest pay at Rs 16 crore, followed by Bumrah (Rs 12 cr), Suryakumar (Rs 8 cr), and Kieron Pollard (Rs 6 cr). This time, with the increased value of Bumrah and Suryakumar, it will be interesting to see the prices at which they are retained, provided they reach an agreement with the players. With the BCCI deciding on the number of retentions, the upcoming player auctions will be significant. During the meeting, most franchises that have been part of the tournament since its inception wanted the major auctions to take place on a four or five-year cycle. Citing continuity, they wanted the BCCI to delay the major player auctions by a year, as they were reluctant to lose key talents they had invested in. The last two major player auctions were held on a four-year cycle (2018 and 2022).
Besides KKR, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, and Gujarat Titans were also advocating for delaying the major player auctions this year.
