5 teams that would not want a mega auction post IPL 2024 ft. KKR
With the dust finally settled on the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) following the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) triumph in Chennai, the franchises can truly see the direction they are heading in and take the necessary decisions. However, for the team owners to take the final call regarding which players stay and who leave, they need the BCCI to decide on the retention rules.
Franchises will not have a free hand over the number of retentions this time around since there is a mega auction coming up. Previously teams have been allowed to retain as many as four players, with the right-to-match (RTM) provision also playing a key role. With the latter set to be re-introduced, it makes the auction dynamics certainly interesting.
There is a lot of debate surrounding the number of retentions and the right-to-match options to be made available, but teams, in general, are either up for the mega auction for a fresh start or against it to keep their current core intact.
On that note, let us take a look at five teams that would not want a mega auction post-IPL 2024.
#1 Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR co-owner Shahrukh Khan summed things up quite well when he stated that he wishes he had this group of players forever as the squad. The Shreyas Iyer-led side pulled off one of the most dominant campaigns in IPL history, and it almost seems downright cruel to have the group disbanded right after it reached the pinnacle of success.
Irrespective of the number of retentions and the right-to-match options, KKR are bound to have a nightmare when it comes to deciding who stays, and who goes back into the auction pool. With Starc also expressing an interest to be a regular feature in the IPL, it only complicates KKR's decision-making.
Last time around, KKR opted to retain Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, and Venkatesh Iyer. All four players played a huge role in the 2024 IPL triumph. This time, skipper Shreyas Iyer is a certainty to be retained, but there are way too many options for the remainder of the slots.
#2 SunRisers Hyderabad
SRH have a very strong overseas contingent and a strong Indian youth pool that makes their retention process very difficult. Keeping hold of all the match winners in the group that made it to the finals with some high-risk cricket will be a tricky ask.
Skipper Pat Cummins has certainly delivered in his first-ever venture as T20 captain and might go on to be a long-term leader as well. The performances of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, T Natarajan, Rahul Tripathi, and a bunch of others have been promising, but it might prove to be difficult to get a hold of them all.
Although the upcoming auction presents itself as an opportunity for SRH to improve their balance and quality, it comes at a risk of losing a couple of their star players as well.
#3 Rajasthan Royals
One of the biggest benefactors of the previous mega auction, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have shown how a single event can turn their fortunes around. After missing out on the playoffs for three years running, some smart acquisitions in the mega auction and some bold decisions helped them become one of the most dominant sides in the recent three-year cycle.
However, despite their prowess, they failed to win a title. They made it to the playoffs twice, but could not secure their second trophy. The RR management now has the difficult task of selecting the ones they want to keep a hold of and releasing the rest.
Skipper Sanju Samson has done enough as leader, batter, and wicketkeeper to extend his stay, while Riyan Parag's resurgence also rests his case as a future bonafide No.4, perhaps even as an all-rounder. Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal remain some of the best short-format bowlers, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler are some of the best openers available in the T20 circuit.
Furthermore, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, and Rovman Powell's finishing ability might be hard to replicate while Nandre Burger also seems a promising bowler in the big leagues. All in all, RR might have to make some tough phone calls in a few months, as there is no way they will be able to keep a hold of this much talent with limited slots.
#4 Chennai Super Kings
If MS Dhoni chooses to continue playing, then CSK's retention headache is bound to escalate, as they already have some tough decisions to make. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and speedster Matheesha Pathirana come across as non-negotiable picks.
However, many more players are worthy of retention. The likes of Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Shivam Dube, and a couple of others have made a good case to be considered a part of the franchise's future.
#5 Royal Challengers Bengaluru
There would be one section among the RCB fans that would be delighted at the prospect of a mega auction, but there is also a case where the auction might hamper their cause. RCB's ever-present star power makes retention decisions difficult, which was even evident during the last mega auction.
Virat Kohli remains the unanimous first name on the list, but there are several other players who RCB wish to keep within their side. Rajat Patidar and Mohammed Siraj showed how important their contributions are to the team during the illustrious unbeaten run.
Cameron Green and Will Jacks also marked their presence in their maiden season. With the former particularly being such a huge investment, RCB ideally would not be willing to part ways so soon.
Du Plessis certainly has the hunger to continue while the ability and fitness are also not a question. Yash Dayal was also quite promising in his first season and to add to all of this, there is the Glenn Maxwell dilemma.