The much-anticipated IPL Retention 2023 is finally here! As the countdown to the mini-auction draws near, franchises have made their strategic decisions, retaining their core players to build a formidable squad for the upcoming season. Let's dive into the details of the retained players list.
The defending champions, Mumbai Indians, have retained four key players: skipper Rohit Sharma, young gun Dewald Brevis, all-rounder Tim David, and pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah. They have released veterans like Kieron Pollard and Trent Boult, while releasing uncapped players like Ramandeep Singh and Anmolpreet Singh.
The Chennai Super Kings, under the leadership of MS Dhoni, have opted to retain four players: Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, and Ruturaj Gaikwad. They have released experienced players like Robin Uthappa and Dwayne Bravo, while also releasing Ambati Rayudu and Narayan Jagadeesan.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore, with the explosive Virat Kohli at the helm, have retained five players: Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Dinesh Karthik. They have released veterans like Faf du Plessis and Josh Hazlewood, while also releasing Anuj Rawat and Sherfane Rutherford.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad, with their new skipper Aiden Markram at the helm, have retained four players: Markram, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umran Malik, and Abhishek Sharma. They have released experienced players like Kane Williamson and Nicholas Pooran, while also releasing Priyam Garg and Abdul Samad.
The Kolkata Knight Riders, led by star all-rounder Shreyas Iyer, have retained four players: Iyer, Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, and Varun Chakravarthy. They have released veterans like Pat Cummins and Sunil Narine, while also releasing Sheldon Jackson and Rasikh Salam.
The Rajasthan Royals, under the leadership of Sanju Samson, have retained four key players: Samson, Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, and Yuzvendra Chahal. They have released experienced players like Trent Boult and Nathan Coulter-Nile, while also releasing Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The Punjab Kings, led by Mayank Agarwal, have opted to retain four players: Agarwal, Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, and Arshdeep Singh. They have released veterans like Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone, while also releasing Prabhsimran Singh and Ishan Porel.
The Delhi Capitals, led by the aggressive Rishabh Pant, have retained four players: Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel, and David Warner. They have released veterans like Mitchell Marsh and Shardul Thakur, while also releasing Mandeep Singh and Yash Dhull.
The Lucknow Super Giants, with the experienced KL Rahul as skipper, have retained four players: Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, and Ravi Bishnoi. They have released veterans like Jason Holder and Evin Lewis, while also releasing Manish Pandey and Ayush Badoni.
The reigning champions and surprise package of last season, the Gujarat Titans, led by Hardik Pandya, have retained four players: Pandya, Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, and Lockie Ferguson. They have released veterans like Wriddhiman Saha and Matthew Wade, while also releasing Sai Sudharsan and R Sai Kishore.
The IPL Retention 2023 has set the stage for an exciting season, with each team having a unique blend of experience and youth. As the mini-auction looms, franchises will strategize to fill the remaining slots in their squads, adding the necessary firepower to make a run for the coveted trophy. Stay tuned for all the updates and analysis as we gear up for another thrilling season of the Indian Premier League.