As the cricketing world gears up for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction, speculation is rife regarding the future of key players within the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad. Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja has expressed confidence that RCB will retain star batter Virat Kohli among others.
Ajay Jadeja’s probable retentions for RCB ahead of IPL 2025 Auction
Jadeja, a renowned commentator and cricket analyst, believes that Kohli is an indispensable asset for RCB and will definitely be retained ahead of the upcoming mega auction. He drew a parallel between Kohli and MS Dhoni, who has been consistently retained by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Jadeja also expressed his support for Rajat Patidar, highlighting his significant role in RCB’s recent revival. He views Patidar as a promising talent for the future. Additionally, Jadeja recommended retaining Anuj Rawat, a wicketkeeper-batsman who has shown good form alongside Patidar.
Regarding overseas players, Jadeja suggested that RCB may opt to retain only two or three players due to their history of changing players and styles. He believes that Mohammed Siraj and Yash Dayal are strong contenders for retention, but the final decision may depend on the new personnel in charge and the availability of Right to Match (RTM) cards.
“We don’t even need to discuss Virat Kohli. It’s the same as [MS] Dhoni for CSK. I favour Rajat Patidar, whether it’s his style or his role in RCB’s revival. He’s the future. In the 4 crore range, you have Anuj Rawat, who has played well alongside Patidar. Wicketkeeper-batsmen are rare commodities, especially of high quality,” Jadeja said on Jio Cinema.
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“In terms of overseas players, I think they like changing players and styles every year. I think they’re going to retain a total of two or three players. I believe retaining Mohammed Siraj and Yash Dayal will be an emotional decision. If the backend remains the same, then there is a chance that Dayal gets picked before Siraj. If not, then the new personnel in charge will look at starting from scratch. So, due to the RTM, I think not as many players will get retained,” he added.
Deadline for IPL 2025 Retentions and possible venue for the mega auction
The deadline for IPL 2025 retentions is set for October 31, 2024. While the venue for the mega auction has not been officially confirmed, it is highly expected to take place in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Franchises are leaning towards holding the event outside India, and these cities, which have previously hosted IPL auctions, are favoured for their world-class facilities.