As the deadline for IPL retention passes, big names like Jos Buttler, Mitchell Starc, Faf du Plessis, and Glenn Maxwell have been let go by their respective franchises. With only two teams having exhausted their 'right-to-match' cards, the rest of the franchises will be vying for these players in the upcoming mega auction. Fans can catch all the updates on Manorama Online App.
IPL Retention Saga: Big Names Released, Auction Looms
As the retention deadline for the Indian Premier League (IPL) passed, several high-profile players were released by their respective franchises, setting the stage for an intriguing mega auction.
Key Players Released
Remaining Right-to-Match Cards
Only two franchises, Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, have exhausted their 'right-to-match' cards, which allow them to retain players at the price the player was purchased at the last auction. This means that the remaining eight franchises will be intensely competing for the released players in the upcoming mega auction.
Mega Auction Details
The IPL mega auction is scheduled to be held on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru. A total of 590 players have registered for the auction, including 370 Indian players and 220 overseas players. Each franchise can have a maximum of 25 players in their squad.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Why were such big names released?
Several factors contributed to the release of these players, including budget constraints, team composition, and performance.
2. What is the 'right-to-match' card?
The 'right-to-match' card allows franchises to retain a released player at the same price as their previous purchase price.
3. Who are the favorites to sign Jos Buttler?
Buttler is a highly sought-after wicketkeeper-batter, and teams like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are expected to be in the race for his signature.
4. Will Mitchell Starc be available for the entire IPL season?
Starc is likely to be available for the latter half of the IPL season, as he is expected to represent Australia in Tests against Pakistan and Sri Lanka earlier in the year.
5. What is the impact of the mega auction on fan engagement?
The mega auction generates significant hype and excitement among fans, as it gives them the opportunity to see their favorite players move to different franchises and forge new partnerships.
In a stunning turn of events, Brazilian football club Botafogo managed to defeat European powerhouse PSG with a 1-0 victory at the Club World Cup. Led by coach Renato Paiva and standout performances from players like Igor Jesus and Alexander Barboza, Botafogo put on a tactically flawless display to secure a memorable win against the reigning Champions League champions. This result serves as a testament to the quality of South American football and showcases the underdog spirit of Botafogo.
Brazilian side Botafogo pulled off a major upset on Thursday as they defeat European powerhouse PSG by a score of 1-0 in a thrilling match at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Despite being the reigning Champions League winners, PSG were unable to find a way past Botafogo's resilient defense and ultimately fell to a first-half goal from Igor Jesus. With this unexpected result, Botafogo all but secured their place in the knockout rounds and proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in the tournament.
Jannik Sinner's coach, Darren Cahill, reveals how Novak Djokovic's honest feedback in 2022 helped turn around Sinner's game. Following their match at Wimbledon, Cahill approached Djokovic for his views on Sinner's performance and received valuable insights. With Djokovic's feedback in mind, Sinner made significant changes to his game and went from being ranked 15 in the world to now being the world number one.
Manchester United's chief executive Omar Berrada has unveiled his "Project 150" vision to mark the club's 150th anniversary in 2028 with double league title wins for both the men's and women's teams. Despite United's struggles in the 2024-2025 season, including a third place finish in the WSL and a 15th place finish in the Premier League, Berrada remains confident in their ability to achieve this goal. He sees similarities between new head coach Ruben Amorim and Man City's Pep Guardiola, and believes that setting specific targets and focusing efforts will help make this ambitious dream a reality.
Manchester United's Chief Executive Omar Berrada has confirmed the club's plan to be active in the summer transfer window, as they work towards a turnaround following a disappointing season under manager Ruben Amorim. With striker Liam Delap rejecting a move to Old Trafford and another target also unavailable, the club is turning its focus towards signing goalkeeper Tom Heaton for another year, as Amorim looks to revamp the team. Berrada also expresses his confidence in the clear vision shared by Amorim and director of football Jason Wilcox, despite the cost-cutting measures the club has faced in the past year.
After Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket, Joe Root, who was often considered to be in a competition with the Indian captain for the top spot in the world of batting, stated that he will miss the battles they had on the field. Root also expressed admiration for Kohli's skills and sees this as an opportunity for other players to showcase their talents in the longer format of the game.
Led by Glenn Maxwell's blazing century and all-rounder Mitch Owen's strong performance, Washington Freedom defeated Los Angeles Knight Riders by a staggering 113 runs in MLC 2025. Maxwell, who had been out of form, rose to the occasion and smashed 106 runs in an unbeaten partnership with Obus Pienaar to take Washington to a formidable total of 208 runs. In response, LAKR struggled to get their feet off the ground, losing five wickets by the eighth over. Despite a brief partnership between Sai Badar and Jason Holder, they were ultimately bowled out for 95 runs.
In a stellar performance, Glenn Maxwell showcased his prowess as he scored 106 runs off just 49 balls, hitting 13 sixes and equaling the T20 century record with legends like Rohit Sharma and Jos Buttler. This was Maxwell's third T20 century as a captain, and he also broke the record for the most sixes in an innings in the ongoing Major League Cricket season. With this stunning performance, Maxwell led Washington Freedom to a score of 208 runs against LA Knight Riders, who have had a rough start to the tournament.
In a big gaffe, the International Cricket Council's promotional video for South Africa's World Test Championship win ended up featuring more of ICC Chairman Jay Amit Shah than the winners. Fans and journalists alike took to social media to criticize the video, with one cricket podcaster calling it "weird" and "hilarious". As a result of the backlash, the video was quickly taken down from the ICC's official X handle.
Tottenham Hotspur have expressed their interest in signing Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo as their new head coach Thomas Frank aims to bring in fresh talent. Mbeumo, who is valued at over £60m, is also being pursued by Manchester United. However, the 25-year-old forward is said to be leaning towards a move to Spurs due to his previous working relationship with Frank. United are expected to make another offer for Mbeumo, while Tottenham are also considering a move for Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo.