"Do you want to retain Faf du Plessis for 3 years?" - Aakash Chopra on RCB's potential retentions for IPL 2025
Aakash Chopra is unsure whether the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) should retain Faf du Plessis for a three-year auction cycle. The former cricketer named Virat Kohli as the Bengaluru-based franchise's first potential retention ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.
Du Plessis led RCB to the playoffs in IPL 2024 despite a poor start to the tournament. However, they couldn't end their title drought as they were knocked out by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra was asked about the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's potential retentions.
"This is always a very interesting question. Tough question again as to who would you want to retain. Virat Kohli will be one you will retain. Can you retain Faf for three years? That is a big question. Do you want to retain Faf for three years? Not sure," he responded (19:10).
The former India opener named Cameron Green and Mohammed Siraj as two other players RCB might want to retain.
"If I get a chance I will retain Cameron Green. I will retain Mohammed Siraj because I won't get too many Indian fast bowlers in the auction if I let him go as part of the retentions," Chopra elaborated.
While opining that Rajat Patidar could be another potential retention, Chopra said he would want to release Glenn Maxwell.
"Rajat Patidar maybe, if he can be retained slightly cheap, but that's about it. Too many names aren't there. I will release Maxi. I will say it's enough, that you are a very good player, you play very well, but it's okay. I want to look somewhere else. So I might leave Maxi," he said.
Maxwell had a horror run with the bat in IPL 2024. The destructive middle-order batter managed a paltry 52 runs at a dismal average of 5.78 in nine innings.
"Will Jacks is not a bad choice" - Aakash Chopra on RCB's other potential overseas retention
![Will Jacks played a few enterprising knocks in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/c6e94-17260370237269-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra was asked whether Will Jacks could be a retention option for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
"Will Jacks is not a bad choice. You can do that. Between Will Jacks and Glenn Maxwell, Will Jacks is much better. So that's a possibility, an outside chance. It depends on how many people you get a chance to retain," he replied (24:50).
The renowned commentator concluded by noting that the three-time finalists need to pick a balanced squad to win the title.
"Personally, RCB need to prepare a good bowling unit, a batting unit that complements Virat Kohli's cricket, and then try to win. That's what I think RCB should be doing," Chopra observed.
Virat Kohli (741), Faf du Plessis (438), and Rajat Patidar (395) were RCB's top three run-getters in IPL 2024. Yash Dayal and Mohammed Siraj, with 15 wickets apiece, were their most successful bowlers.