The IPL franchises have announced their list of retained players for the upcoming auction, with hefty sums being shelled out to keep top stars on each team. Sunrisers Hyderabad retained South African batsman Heinrich Klaasen for a record-breaking 23 Crore Indian Rupees, closely followed by RCB's Virat Kohli and Lucknow Super Giants' Nicholas Pooran. While each team was allowed to retain up to six players, Chennai Super Kings made an unexpected move by retaining MS Dhoni as an "uncapped" player for a base value of 4 Crore Indian Rupees. Stay tuned to see who else will make the cut for the 2025 season.
IPL 2025 Player Retention: Franchisees Shell Out Hefty Sums
Ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, the franchises have released their lists of retained players. As expected, several top stars have been retained for eye-watering sums.
Sunrisers Hyderabad's Record-Breaking Bid
The most notable move was Sunrisers Hyderabad's record-breaking bid for South African batsman Heinrich Klaasen. The franchise shelled out a staggering 23 Crore Indian Rupees (approximately $3 million) to retain Klaasen, making him the highest-paid player in IPL history.
RCB's Virat Kohli and LSG's Nicholas Pooran Close Behind
Royal Challengers Bangalore retained their talismanic captain, Virat Kohli, for 22 Crore Indian Rupees (approximately $2.9 million). Lucknow Super Giants also made a significant investment in Nicholas Pooran, retaining him for 21 Crore Indian Rupees (approximately $2.8 million).
Chennai Super Kings' Surprise Move
Chennai Super Kings surprised many by retaining MS Dhoni as an "uncapped" player for a base value of 4 Crore Indian Rupees (approximately $533,000). This move suggests that Dhoni, despite being 42 years old, is still considered a valuable asset to the team.
Top 5 FAQs Related to IPL Player Retention
Why is Heinrich Klaasen so highly valued? Klaasen is a dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman who has consistently performed well in various T20 leagues worldwide. He is seen as a key player for the South African national team and has been impressive for Sunrisers Hyderabad in recent seasons.
Why did Chennai Super Kings retain Dhoni as an "uncapped" player? This move essentially means that Dhoni will not count against CSK's salary cap. It suggests that CSK still values Dhoni's leadership, experience, and mentoring abilities.
Who were the biggest snubs in the retention process? Some notable players who were not retained include David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, and Ravichandran Ashwin. These players may garner significant interest in the auction.
What is the significance of the upcoming IPL auction? The IPL auction provides teams with an opportunity to fill their squads with the best available players. Teams can sign players from India and around the world, giving them a chance to assemble well-balanced, competitive rosters.
When and where is the IPL auction taking place? The IPL auction for the 2025 season is scheduled to be held on March 15, 2025, in Mumbai, India.
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