IPL 2018: RCB retains Virat Kohli for Rs 17 cr; Dhoni, Rohit retained for Rs 15 cr
Other players who were retained for a hefty fee included David Warner, Steve Smith, Suresh Raina, Hardik Pandya, AB deVilliers, Sunil Narine and Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The Indian Premier League (IPL) Player Retention Event which was held in Mumbai turned out to be an exercise on expected lines barring a few surprises. For the IPL 2018 season Virat Kohli has become the most expensive player in IPL history after being retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping Rs 17 crore fee. With that, Kohli has beaten the previous best when Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) had splashed Rs 14.5 crore for England’s Ben Stokes last season.
MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who have been retained by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) respectively, for Rs 15 crore turned out to be the second highest paid cricketers who have been retained for IPL 2018.
Other players who were retained for a hefty fee included--David Warner, Steve Smith (Rs 12 crore), Suresh Raina, Hardik Pandya, AB deVilliers (Rs 11 crore) and Sunil Narine, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Rs 8.5 crore) rounding off the top-10 most expensive players from the retentions.
One of the biggest surprises of the event was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) not retaining captain Gautam Gambhir who had led the team to two IPL titles – in 2012 and 2014.
Following the players' retention, KXIP and RR - who retained just one player each, are now left with a purse of Rs 67.5 Crore ahead of the mega auction to be held on January 27 and 28. KKR and SRH, after their two retentions, are left with a purse of Rs 59 Crore. While RCB will go into the auction with Rs 49 Crore in the bank; CSK, DD and MI will have a purse of Rs 47 Crore.
MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who have been retained by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) respectively, for Rs 15 crore turned out to be the second highest paid cricketers who have been retained for IPL 2018.
Other players who were retained for a hefty fee included--David Warner, Steve Smith (Rs 12 crore), Suresh Raina, Hardik Pandya, AB deVilliers (Rs 11 crore) and Sunil Narine, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Rs 8.5 crore) rounding off the top-10 most expensive players from the retentions.
One of the biggest surprises of the event was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) not retaining captain Gautam Gambhir who had led the team to two IPL titles – in 2012 and 2014.
Following the players' retention, KXIP and RR - who retained just one player each, are now left with a purse of Rs 67.5 Crore ahead of the mega auction to be held on January 27 and 28. KKR and SRH, after their two retentions, are left with a purse of Rs 59 Crore. While RCB will go into the auction with Rs 49 Crore in the bank; CSK, DD and MI will have a purse of Rs 47 Crore.
