The IPL 2025 mega-auctions are knocking at the doorstep, and every team management is gearing alongside their coaches, mentors, and skippers. Every possible team has looked to retain their core team, though some teams have made some startling retentions, leaving out several crucial players.
After the retentions were announced at the end of last month, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings retained the least number of players. RCB only retained the likes of their veteran batters Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal, the two promising youngsters.
While PBKS retained only two of their vital uncapped players, Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh, these two teams will be left with the highest purse amount in the history of the IPL. RCB have INR 83 crores, while PBKS entered the mega-auction with a record INR 110.5 crores in their bag.
5 players who can instill a bidding war between RCB and PBKS:
Liam Livingstone
The English all-rounder has had a dream form since his return to the English side following the T20 World Cup. Livingstone has been equally effective with the bat and ball, though he has recently been replaced as the ICC’s No. 1 T20I all-rounder.
Livingstone might be one of the RTM options in head for the Punjab Kings, while RCB will also look to acquire his services in order to reinstall their side for the IPL.
Kagiso Rabada
Rabada, the most veteran overseas bowler in the recent few years in the IPL, has been an ever-effective pace option for the teams; hence, he might be the second RTM option considered by the Punjab Kings.
However, other than the Kings and RCB, even the likes of several other franchises like CSK and LSG, who are in the quest for an experienced pacer, would look to target the Protea legend.
Yuzvendra Chahal
The Royals released their spin option while also not having much of a retention option left with them; hence, Chahal might be travelling to some other part of India.
Chahal’s spin capacity turned him into the highest wicket-taker in the format and the tournament, which might find him travelling back to the Chinnaswamy or to the hills in Dharamshala or Mohali.
Rishabh Pant
Pant has been anticipated by many, like Irfan Pathan and Suresh Raina, to be the IPL 2025 mega-auction’s highest-bid player. Some have also predicted that he might break Starc’s record for the highest bid amount in the mega-auction.
Pant might be backed only by the two biggest IPL franchises, who have the secured purse amount required for acquiring a high-stakes player like Pant.
Faf du Plessis
Faf was not retained by the Royal Challengers, maybe because he could be received for a lower amount than the retention slab. Hence he might be said to be RCB’s prime target in the form of an RTM.
Du Plessis recently led the St. Lucia Kings in the CPL, a daughter franchise of the Kings, and since then he might highly be in demand in the IPL as well, especially with a new mentor and hopes of lifting the title for the first time in the IPL.
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