RCB undecided on retaining Virat Kohli for IPL 2018
With the IPL player retention deadline closing in, Royal Challengers Bangalore are facing a dilemma. The franchise from the south of India is yet to decide if it wants to retain star performers Indian skipper Virat Kohli and South African batsman AB de Villiers for IPL 2018. The decision may come as a shocking one but the BCCI has left RCB with no option.
Retaining Kohli will come at a heavy cost
Leaving Virat Kohli out would not be an easy option for RCB's management. Kohli has been the skipper of the franchise and is one of the best performers in the IPL. He is also the most marketable athlete and a saleable brand. But retaining him would also come at a heavy cost, thanks to the IPL's new retention policy.
What is the new retention policy?
"The deduction from salary purse in case of retention will be determined on the basis of guideline price or actual price (whichever is higher) "
Kohli's wages likely to be the problem
Each franchise has been given a purse of Rs. 80 cr and the retained players' cost will be deducted from the purse. Till last year, RCB paid Kohli Rs. 15 cr per season which was the actual price, but Rs. 12 cr was deducted from their purse which was the guideline price. Now with the new rule the purse money would go down further.
Kohli can opt to join auction pool
The new rule states that if a player is not satisfied by retention price offered by the respective franchise, he can opt to be a part of the auction which could see him being sold for big bucks. However, Kohli is one of the two players (Harbhajan Singh being the other) to have played for only one side in 10 years of the IPL.
How much would Kohli command in auctions?
If a team retains two players, then the top player is paid Rs. 12.5 cr. If they opt to retain 3, then the top player is paid Rs. 15 cr. What if Kohli is in the auctions, what will the bid be like? Considering Yuvraj Singh was sold for Rs. 16 cr, a player like Kohli should demand much more.
Building a squad with limited resources
Retaining the likes of Kohli and AB de Villiers could mean RCB losing a huge sum of their purse money which could bring it down to as much as half. This leaves them with the problem of building a quality side of at least 20 players with the restricted purse amount.
KKR sweat over retention of Gambhir
RCB's management is not the only one with this retention dilemma. Kolkata Knight Riders are facing a similar issue with their captain Gautam Gambhir. One of the most successful captains in the league, Gambhir is also a destructive batsman, but what is working against him is his age. Already 36, will KKR spend big bucks to retain their skipper?
Will Kohli play for a new franchise in IPL 11?
Players like Chris Gayle, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kohli and de Villiers are the core of the team, but does it make sense depleting half your purse to retain these players, which is something the management will have to decide in the coming week. Don't be surprised if the Indian skipper is the IPL's new record buy in January next year.
