We are just a few hours away from getting to know the future of all ten IPL franchises, as the IPL 2025 retention deadline day (5 pm Oct 31) is just upon us. October 30 gave away most of the buzz, with innumerable reports coming in related to almost all the IPL teams. Barring the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR), fans got to know almost every detail about other franchises, with the biggest news coming in of MS Dhoni! Yes, ‘Thala’ will be playing IPL 2025, as he is expected to be retained as an uncapped player for just Rs 4 crore. A news story that kicked off the day in a surreal way was of Virat Kohli, who is touted to captain RCB. However, everything is not rosy among all franchises, as DC and KKR are likely to release their skippers ahead of IPL 2025 retentions. On that note, here are six of the most eye-catching stories from October 30.
MS Dhoni continues at CSK!
MS Dhoni is set to play IPL 2025! CSK will retain him, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and Matheesha Pathirana. Dhoni, a bona fide legend of the game, will play his 18th consecutive IPL season according to reports. To accommodate him under the new uncapped rule, he has agreed to a 70% pay cut. This means he’ll earn Rs 4 crore annually, down from his previous Rs 12 crore.
‘Captain’ Virat Kohli is back for RCB
Virat Kohli is set to return as RCB captain for IPL 2025. After stepping down from all captaincy roles after IPL 2021, Kohli will replace Faf du Plessis, who is unlikely to be retained. RCB’s management and Kohli discussed the team’s leadership, and Kohli has agreed to take on the responsibility. This marks a return for one of the IPL’s most iconic batters. Psych up, RCB fans!
Rajat Patidar fires!
As per TOI, the Delhi Capitals (DC) are set to release Rishabh Pant ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. The franchise will retain Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Tristian Stubbs. Axar Patel is likely to be named the new captain if the franchise fails to acquire a new captaincy candidate at the IPL 2025 auction. This move comes after a long association between Pant and DC that started with the IPL 2016.
Shreyas Iyer to say bye to KKR?
Shreyas Iyer’s time with KKR seems to be ending. His exorbitant fee demands have led to a potential exit. Despite his leadership skills and leading KKR to an IPL 2024 triumph, injury concerns and the loss of a national team spot have impacted his valuation. While he’s sought after by other franchises, Iyer’s high price tag might be a deterrent. His departure could be a huge loss for KKR, but it opens new opportunities for both the player and the franchise.
No Harshit Rana in IND vs NZ Test
Harshit Rana’s much-anticipated India debut will have to wait. Despite reports of his inclusion in the Indian squad for the third Test against New Zealand, India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar confirmed no additions. Rana’s impressive IPL 2024 performance, where he took 19 wickets for KKR, raised hopes for a national call-up sooner rather than later. However, he was overlooked for the Bangladesh T20Is. While he’s part of the Test squad against Australia, his debut remains uncertain, with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep leading the pace attack.
RR Retention list out!
According to ESPNcricinfo, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have retained Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Sandeep Sharma for IPL 2025. Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal have been released but could be retained via the Right to Match (RTM) card. Dhruv Jurel’s retention is still uncertain. If true, RR have certainly build a strong Indian core, and are still likely to have a hefty purse going into the IPL 2025 mega auction.
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