With the IPL's retention rules now being finalised, who are the players Chennai Super Kings should look to keep hold of ahead of the auction?
One of the IPL's most successful franchises, Chennai Super Kings endured a difficult season in 2024 as they failed to qualify for the playoffs following a loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their final league match.
The core of their squad remains largely the same as the one which lifted the IPL trophy in 2023, but some of their elder statesmen might be coming to the end of their time with the team.
How should they look to split their retentions and RTM cards?
First, a refresher on the retention rules.
- Teams can keep up to six players through a combination of retentions and RTM cards. If they retain five, they will have one RTM card. If they retain four, they will have two RTM cards, and so on.
- A maximum of five capped players and a maximum of two uncapped players can be retained. There is no restriction on the number of Indian/overseas players teams can keep hold of.
- The first three retention slots are priced at salary slabs of Rs 18 crore, 14 crore and 11 crore respectively. The fourth and fifth slots are worth Rs 18 crore and 14 crore respectively. Uncapped players will be retained at Rs 4 crore.
- Any Indian player without a central contract in the last five years, or who has not been named in an international playing XI for five years, will count as an uncapped player.
