IPL 2025 Retention Rules: As soon as BCCI’s retention policy for IPL 2025 came out, various kinds of speculations started. On one hand there is an uncapped rule, while on the other hand teams have now been allowed to retain 6 players instead of 4 in the mega auction. Due to this, many equations seem to have changed for the next season. In such a situation, let us know which 3 players the champion team of IPL 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) can release before the mega auction.
1. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc is one of the most lethal bowlers in the world, but Starc could prove to be a loss-making deal for KKR in the upcoming auction. Since Starc was bid for Rs 24.75 crore in the last auction, just retaining him will already reduce around 21 per cent of the team’s purse. In such a situation, KKR will have to prepare the rest of the team with the remaining 79 percent money. Nevertheless, even if KKR does not want to leave Starc, the option of Right to Match (RTM card) will be open in the mega auction. To put it simply, Kolkata can drop Mitchell Starc from the team to save money.
2. Phil Salt
Phil Salt had scored 435 runs in 12 matches at an average of 39.55 last season. Although he was brought as a replacement for Jason Roy, his arrival strengthened the top order of the team. Along with Sunil Narine, he also defeated the bowlers of the opposition team many times. But in the mega auction, KKR will have a chance to choose from a long list of Indian players and legends. To choose a better option, Kolkata can consider releasing Salt.
3. Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer has been playing for Kolkata Knight Riders since 2021. For KKR, he has scored 1,326 runs in 51 matches and has also been bowling well. Since a team will be allowed to retain 5 players and use Right to Match card on one player. In such a situation, it seems quite difficult to fit Iyer among these 6 players. KKR has become champion under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh is being seen as a future star. Whereas Sunil Narine and Andre Russell have been among the reliable players of the team for a long time. In such a situation, Venkatesh Iyer is finding it very difficult to get a place among the retained players.
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