IPL 2025 Retention Rules: As soon as BCCI's retention policy for IPL 2025 came out, various speculations have started. On one hand there is an uncapped rule and on the other hand teams are now allowed to have 6 players instead of 4 in the mega auction. Due to this, many equations seem to be changing for the next season. In such a situation, let us know which 3 players the IPL 2024 champion team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) can release before the mega auction.
1. Michelle Starke
Mitchell Starc is one of the most lethal bowlers in the world, but Starc can prove to be a profitable deal for KKR in the upcoming auction. Since the bid for Starc was Rs 24.75 crore in the last auction, retaining him would reduce the team's purse by about 21 per cent. In such a situation, KKR will have to prepare the team with the remaining 79 percent money. However, if KKR does not want to let Starc go, the Right to Match (RTMcard) option will still be open in the mega auction. If we talk, Kolkata can drop Mitchell Starc from the team to save money.
2. Fill with salt
Phil Salt scored 435 runs in 12 matches at an average of 39.55 last season. Although he was brought in as a replacement for Jason Roy, his arrival strengthened the team's top order. Along with Sunil Narine, he also defeated the bowlers of the opposing team many times. But in the mega auction, KKR will have a chance to choose from a long list of Indian players and legends. To choose a better option, Kolkata can consider releasing salt.
3. Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer has been playing for Kolkata Knight Riders since 2021. He has scored 1,326 runs in 51 matches for KKR and has also bowled well. Because a team will be allowed to field 5 players and use the Right to Match card on one player. In such a situation, it seems very difficult to fit Iyer among these 6 players. KKR has become champion under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh is being seen as the star of the future. Whereas Sunil Narine and Andre Russell have been among the trusted players of the team for a long time. In such a situation, it seems very difficult for Venkatesh Iyer to make a place among the retained players.