IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders retentions finalised; Shreyas Iyer to be first choice
Published - 04 Oct 2024, 12:36 PM | Updated - 04 Oct 2024, 11:40 PM
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Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra revealed his retention for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction.
Chopra said that skipper Iyer should be Kolkata Knight Riders' first retention after guiding the franchise to the IPL trophy in the last season.
The BCCI recently confirmed that each franchise can retain up to six players, with a limit of five capped players. The first player will cost Rs 18 cr, with the second and third costing Rs 14 cr and Rs 11 cr, respectively. If franchises want to retain two more players, the costs will be Rs 18 cr and Rs 14 cr.
Aakash Chopra Reveals Retentions Of Kolkata Knight Riders
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra revealed his retention picks for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
He picked Shreyas Iyer as the first retention, with Rinku Singh as the second. Overseas players Sunil Narine and Andre Russell were selected as the third and fourth retentions in Chopra's picks.
Shah Rukh Khan Won't Allow Shreyas Iyer To Go - Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said that Iyer should be KKR's top retention for the IPL 2025. Chopra added that KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan won't allow Shreyas Iyer to go, adding that he is a winning captain.
"You want to first retain the captain, who is Shreyas Iyer. If 18 crores go, let them go because you won't get a captain. He is your winning captain. If Gautam (Gambhir) isn't there, retain your captain to maintain some continuity. There is no doubt that you should retain Shreyas Iyer," Chopra said.
"You might get Shreyas Iyer for 18 crores using the RTM but never do that with the captain because eventually this game is played by humans, and humans have hearts, and thereby emotions. Who will understand emotions better than Khan Sahab (Shahrukh Khan)? So I feel he won't allow Shreyas Iyer to go," he added.
Shreyas Iyer was the fourth-highest run-scorer for KKR in the IPL 2024. He amassed 351 runs in 14 innings at an impressive average of 39.00 and a strike rate of 146.86, with two half-centuries. He scored an unbeaten 58 runs off just 24 balls during "Qualifier 1" against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Rinku Singh Will Be Sold For 14 Crores - Aakash Chopra
In the same video, Aakash Chopra said that the Knight Riders should retain Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine as their capped players alongside Shreyas Iyer. Chopra added that they should retain Rinku despite costing Rs 14 cr.
"Second - since I am looking from the Indian perspective, if Rinku Singh comes to the market, he will be sold for 14 crores. So retain Rinku Singh for sure. Retain both Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. The problem is that if you retain both, one will be for 11 crores but the fourth retention will be for 18 crores. I would say it is still worth it," Chopra further stated.
The former Indian opener also advised against retaining Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer. Chopra said that Harshit Rana should not be retained if he comes capped at auction. He concluded by stating that their auction value might be lower.
"That is where I will stop. Look to retain only four players. If Harshit Rana remains uncapped, I will try to retain him for four crores. Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Venkatesh Iyer are quality players but if all three of them go into the auction, none of them might go for 14 crores and probably not even for 11 crores," he concluded.
