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.
Tottenham Hotspur suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of their north London rivals Arsenal, in what turned out to be one of their worst performances of the season. Manager Thomas Frank's tactics and team selection came under scrutiny after he opted for a back three, which he eventually changed at half-time. The defeat saw Spurs record their lowest expected goals (xG) of the season, with just 0.07 xG registered against Arsenal. With just three wins in their last 11 games, Tottenham's season seems to be spiraling downwards and manager Thomas Frank has apologized to fans for their dismal display.
Get ready for a thrilling match as Arsenal, the current leaders of the Premier League table, face off against their rivals Tottenham in the highly-anticipated north London derby. Sky customers can tune in to watch the game on Sky Sports at 4pm or stream it on the Sky Sports app. Non-Sky customers can also catch the action by purchasing a NOW Day or Month pass. Both teams have something to prove as Arsenal looks to maintain its three-point lead while Tottenham aims to climb up the table. Don't miss this showdown at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday November 23 at 4.30pm UK time.
Arsenal's Leandro Trossard scored the opening goal in a 4-1 victory against Tottenham in the North London Derby, for the second season in a row. The Belgian forward expressed his joy post-match, crediting the goal for giving the team the confidence to dominate the game. Trossard also praised the team's overall performance and the support of the fans, who created a stunning atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium. With this win, Arsenal maintains their position at the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal's star midfielder Eberechi Eze proved his worth in the North London derby, leading the Gunners to a 4-1 victory over rivals Tottenham with a stunning hat-trick. However, many were left wondering how different things would have been if Eze had joined Tottenham last summer. The playmaker was expected to join Spurs until Arsenal hijacked the deal due to Kai Havertz's injury. Now, Eze has put all talks about his failed move behind him as he dominates on the pitch for the Gunners.
In a highly anticipated Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, the home side emerged victorious with a 4-1 win. Arsenal's star player Eberechi Eze was the standout performer of the game, scoring a hat-trick and securing the win for his team. Tottenham's defense struggled to contain the Arsenal attack, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario conceding four goals. Despite some solid performances, including that of defender Cristian Romero, the night belonged to Arsenal and Eze's impressive display.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank took the full blame for his team's embarrassing loss to bitter rivals Arsenal. He apologized to the fans and acknowledged that his tactics were a major factor in the defeat. The statistics also showed that this was the second time Tottenham had used a back three system and failed to score above 0.1 expected goals, leaving them in ninth place in the Premier League. Frank admitted his concerns about the team's lack of aggressiveness and creativity in a game like this, and promised to work harder to improve in the future.
The Indian women's blind cricket team has created history by emerging as the champions of the first ever Blind Women's T20 World Cup, held in Colombo. In a one-sided final against Nepal, India showcased their prowess in both bowling and batting to secure a convincing seven-wicket victory. This remarkable feat not only reflects their talent and composure under pressure, but also sends a powerful message about inclusion and expanding women's sport to new formats and communities. By lifting the trophy, the Indian side has given much-deserved recognition to blind cricket and its athletes both in India and globally.
As Arsenal continues to secure long-term commitments from key players, manager Mikel Arteta expresses his belief that discussions with youngster Bukayo Saka and his representatives are progressing positively. Saka, a central figure in Arsenal's development under Arteta, has become a consistent performer and important leader on the pitch. For the manager, the young star's journey with the club is a legacy they are determined to maintain.
Tottenham's manager Thomas Frank apologizes for their disappointing performance against Arsenal, stating that they were not aggressive enough and did not win enough duels. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also apologizes for their lack of fight and acknowledges the importance of sticking together as a team. Despite their emotional defeat, they aim to learn from their mistakes and move forward for their upcoming game on Wednesday. Interestingly, Frank also addresses the controversial second goal scored by Arsenal, but admits that it wouldn't have changed the outcome of the game.
The recent international break was an eventful one for Arsenal, with injuries plaguing the squad. However, amidst the chaos, one former Gunner experienced a career-high moment. Kieran Tierney, who left Arsenal to sign with Celtic, scored a stunning goal for Scotland to secure their spot in the World Cup. Tierney's former teammates, including Mikel Merino, praised him as a "legend" and "deserving" of the achievement.