With the new guidelines for retention announced ahead of the auction, a team can hold on to up to six players, including capped, uncapped players and Right to Match (RTM) options.

Find the implications of the new IPL player regulations here.

While teams would want to keep their core intact, a lot of permutations and combinations are involved in putting together a formidable unit. RCB will have to make some tough choices ahead of the upcoming bidding war. Here are the players they could retain:

Kohli the most obvious choice

Part of RCB since the inaugural edition in 2008, Kohli, the leading run-scorer in the tournament, is undoubtedly going to be the first name to be retained by the franchise. Kohli’s rejuvenated approach saw him score 741 runs in 2024 – the most in the season – at an average of 61.75, but more importantly, at a strike rate of 154.70, his best-ever in the tournament.

Faf du Plessis, 40, led the side in the last three seasons, helping them reach the playoffs twice. Given his age, it won’t be surprising if RCB let go of their captain to start afresh.

Siraj to be retained again?

A quality India pace bowler is a rare commodity in the IPL, and that could place Mohammed Siraj second on RCB’s retention list. Siraj was retained in the last mega auction and in all likelihood will remain a member of the core group. Rajat Patidar is to RCB’s batting what Siraj is to their bowling: a top-drawer Indian talent. His 395 runs last year came at a strike-rate of 177.13.

Among uncapped players, Yash Dayal, who received his maiden India call-up in the Test series against Bangladesh, could be an option. Having endured a tough IPL 2023, where he leaked 31 runs in an over, Dayal turned his fortunes by finishing the previous year as RCB’s joint-highest wicket-taker (15) alongside Siraj. That Dayal has a BCCI fast bowling contract emphasises his relevance among the current crop of India pacers.

Mayank Yadav became the third Indian to begin his men’s T20I career with a maiden over 👏

A brilliant start for the youngster! 🔥

Read here ➡️ https://t.co/Eb1SynA9hJ pic.twitter.com/KbKrK7xJIy

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 6, 2024

Who are the overseas players to be retained?

With no bar on foreign player retentions, RCB may keep hold of Australia all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green. Maxwell’s IPL career has been largely inconsistent, and last year was no different. However, it’s this team for which he found some consistency, managing 513, 301 and 400 in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. His explosiveness in the middle-order is something RCB would want to preserve. Green could compete for a place with English all-rounder Will Jacks, who scored a 41-ball hundred last year.

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