Virat Kohli has been retained by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. Kohli’s retention was expected, but his price of Rs 21 crore caught attention. This makes him the first Indian player to breach the Rs. 20 crore mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history.
Before Kohli, Australia's Pat Cummins (Rs. 20.50 crore) and Mitchell Starc (Rs. 24.75 crore) had breached the Rs. 20 crore mark during the mini-auction in December 2023.
RCB also retained Rajat Patidar for Rs. 11 crore and uncapped left-arm fast bowler Yash Dayal for Rs. 5 crore. However, the team decided not to retain their captain Faf du Plessis, all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Will Jacks, and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj.
Kohli expressed his enthusiasm in a video, saying, "I have retained for the three year cycle which starts next year. I am super excited. It's been a special relationship which continues to grow stronger. At the end of the cycle, it will be 20 years. That in itself is a special feeling. I never thought I would play for so many years for one team," Kohli said in a video.
Mo Bobat, Director of Cricket at RCB, commented on the team's strategy, “We're all too aware of the need to establish a strong Indian core to our team going into the 2025 IPL season, and we feel that our retention decisions are a significant step in the right direction. It's great to continue Virat's lengthy association with RCB, I'm confident that a new group of players will benefit hugely from his inspirational and infectious energy, and his commitment to high standards,”
Bobat also highlighted the value of retaining Patidar and Dayal, “It's also great to secure both Rajat and Yash, two excellent players that offer relatively unique skills and abilities. In Yash's case, as an uncapped player, he also represents outstanding financial value.”
He acknowledged the difficulty in releasing players and wished them well, “It's always sad to release players, given the strength of relationships that are built and the many shared achievements and memories, and I wish all departing players well. As for us, we now commence our auction preparations having retained top Indian talent, whilst also giving ourselves both options and flexibility with our three remaining RTMs, and a healthy available purse. It should be fun!”
Before Kohli, Australia's Pat Cummins (Rs. 20.50 crore) and Mitchell Starc (Rs. 24.75 crore) had breached the Rs. 20 crore mark during the mini-auction in December 2023.
RCB also retained Rajat Patidar for Rs. 11 crore and uncapped left-arm fast bowler Yash Dayal for Rs. 5 crore. However, the team decided not to retain their captain Faf du Plessis, all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Will Jacks, and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj.
Kohli expressed his enthusiasm in a video, saying, "I have retained for the three year cycle which starts next year. I am super excited. It's been a special relationship which continues to grow stronger. At the end of the cycle, it will be 20 years. That in itself is a special feeling. I never thought I would play for so many years for one team," Kohli said in a video.
Mo Bobat, Director of Cricket at RCB, commented on the team's strategy, “We're all too aware of the need to establish a strong Indian core to our team going into the 2025 IPL season, and we feel that our retention decisions are a significant step in the right direction. It's great to continue Virat's lengthy association with RCB, I'm confident that a new group of players will benefit hugely from his inspirational and infectious energy, and his commitment to high standards,”
Bobat also highlighted the value of retaining Patidar and Dayal, “It's also great to secure both Rajat and Yash, two excellent players that offer relatively unique skills and abilities. In Yash's case, as an uncapped player, he also represents outstanding financial value.”
“𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝟑-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝟐𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐂𝐁 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠.”
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) October 31, 2024
King Kohli expresses his feelings and aspirations for the upcoming IPL ahead of the Mega Auction… pic.twitter.com/aKZEv8mtYf
He acknowledged the difficulty in releasing players and wished them well, “It's always sad to release players, given the strength of relationships that are built and the many shared achievements and memories, and I wish all departing players well. As for us, we now commence our auction preparations having retained top Indian talent, whilst also giving ourselves both options and flexibility with our three remaining RTMs, and a healthy available purse. It should be fun!”
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