As expected, the Chennai Super Kings have retained MS Dhoni. Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja are the other two players retained by the Chennai Super Kings. Rajasthan Royal have retained the Australian captain Steve Smith.
Kolkata Knight Riders, however, chose to retain only two players and the names did not include Gautam Gambhir. The title-winning skipper now moves back into the player pool for the auction, later this month.
Kolkata have chosen to retain Sunil Narine and Andre Russell.
The former India captain and Steve Smith joined Rising Pune Supergiant after CSK and Rajasthan were banned for two seasons (2016 and 2017) due to involvement in match-fixing. Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja joined the Gujarat Lions in 2016.
Dhoni, who has led CSK to two IPL titles in 2010 and 2011, was the captain of the team for all seasons since the first edition in 2008.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has scored 3,561 runs and effected 76 catches and 36 stumpings in his 159-match IPL career.
We just want to retain the core of the team.Chennai Super Kings Official
Suresh Raina, too, has been with Chennai from the first season. The Uttar Pradesh batsman is the highest scorer in the IPL with 4,540 runs in 161 matches.
Raina, who has never missed a match for Chennai, has scored 3,699 runs in 132 matches.
Ravindra Jadeja, who started his IPL career with the Rajasthan Royals, was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for $2 million in 2012. Jadeja has scored 1,732 runs and picked up 82 wickets in his IPL career.
Kohli Becomes Highest Paid Player Ever
Virat Kohli will continue to play for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, as he has been retained by the team once again. AB de Villiers and Sarfaraz Khan are the other players that the RCB has decided to hold on to.
After he was retained for Rs 17 crore, Kohli became the highest paid player in IPL history. He went past Yuvraj Singh’s record of Rs 16 crore (bought by Delhi Daredevils in 2015). MS Dhoni was retained by the Chennai Super Kings for Rs 15 crore.
Since RCB decided to retain an uncapped player in Sarfaraz Khan, he is eligible to receive up to Rs 3 crore. If the third player retained by any team is a capped player, he will receive up to Rs 7 crore. The difference of Rs 4 crore was divided – Rs 2 crore has been added to Kohli’s salary and the other Rs 2 crore has been added to RCB’s remaining balance for the IPL auction later this month.
Steve Smith, who joined the Rajasthan Royals in 2014, has scored 1,703 runs in his IPL career so far.
I am really excited to be standing by the Rajasthan Royals in this season of the IPL. Its a great franchise with great people around. I loved playing for them in the past and I am looking forward to once again joining the team and making a big difference in the IPL this year.Steve Smith
Mumbai Indians had the league's most successful captain Rohit Sharma back in their stable, along with Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah. Kings XI Punjab retained left-arm spinner Axar Patel in their ranks while South African Chris Morris, young guns Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer are back with Delhi Daredevils.
Australia’s vice-captain David Warner remains with Sunrisers Hyderabad along with pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Players’ Salary
According to the IPL player retention rules, the first player retained will receive up to Rs 15 crore, the second player retained will receive up to Rs 11 crore and the third player will receive up to Rs 7 crore.
In the case of Rajasthan, where only one player has been retained – the player will receive up to Rs 12.5 crore.
In the case of Kolkata Knight Riders, where two players have been retained, the first player will receive up to Rs 12.5 crore and the second player will receive up to 8.5 crore.
Here’s a look at the league fee decided for each of the players retained:
Reason for CSK And RR’s Suspension
Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended from the league for two years after Gurunath Meiyappan (former Team Principal of CSK) and Raj Kundra (former co-owner of Rajasthan Royals) were found guilty of being involved in betting activities during the 2013 IPL season.
Meiyappan and Kundra have been banned from the IPL for life.
Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant had replaced Chennai and Rajasthan for the 2016 and 2017 IPL seasons.
(With inputs from PTI)
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