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The deadline to submit player retention lists is just 10 days away and all Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are currently in a huddle as they chart their respective roadmaps for the new cycle. It’s quite straightforward for some, a problem of plenty for few but same old story for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) — Virat Kohli and who else?
Ahead of the 2022 mega auction, RCB retained Kohli (Rs 15 crore), Glenn Maxwell (Rs 11 crore) and Mohammed Siraj (Rs 7 crore) but could well have fewer retentions this time around.Retaining Kohli is a no-brainer but the other retentions aren’t. Siraj has been the leader of the bowling attack but leaked runs at 9-plus an over in two of the last three editions, Maxwell had a disastrous 2024 and current skipper Faf Du Plessis is 40!
Cameron Green, the player they acquired via an all-cash trade of Rs 17.50 crore with Mumbai Indians last season, is also unlikely to be on that list since he recently underwent back surgery and will be away from cricket for at least six months. The designated finisher, Dinesh Karthik, has called it a day and only Rajat Patidar emerges as an option for the middle-order but it’s unlikely RCB would want to spend a lot of money for the right-hander.
This leaves them in a position where they have no option but to press the reset button, again, and fill the crucial blanks at the mega auction. The option of using the Right to Match (RTM) card for their existing players is always there but at this stage, very few retentions are likely because they come at a premium. If they have an eye on the future, RCB surely need a skipper who can serve them for a long time.
Focus on local players
Devdutt Padikkal
Over the years, RCB have paid very little attention to local Bengaluru players and not many have gone on to play consistently for the IPL franchise.
There have been only a handful of names who have played substantial cricket for the side and Devdutt Padikkal was the last one to get a consistent run as top-order batter. Seamer Vyshak Vijay Kumar has been with the side but has only played 11 matches across two seasons.
It is understood that there is considerable government pressure on the franchise to go local for this cycle and it will not be a surprise if they look at Karnataka players during the mega auction.
The KL Rahul situation
KL Rahul has played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the past. Image: BCCI
Rahul perfectly fits the bill as a top-order batter, a captaincy candidate and local player, and plenty of stakeholders will be keeping a close eye on developments in the Lucknow Supergiants camp. The right-hander played for the RCB from 2013-2016 and had a brilliant season in 2016 where he scored 397 runs at an average of 44.11 and scored those runs at a strike-rate of 146.49.
Apart from the captaincy and batting, he also brings wicketkeeping to the table and RCB, after the exit of DK, are in need of a reliable wicketkeeper-batter too.
The Rahul situation, however, is not in RCB’s hands as the first call is with LSG. If both Rahul and LSG mutually decide on not extending the partnership, the auction is set to witness an intense bidding war for the 32-year-old.
For RCB, the preparations are set to commence on the note: Virat Kohli, and the rest!
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