Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan feels that the Royal Challengers Bangalore will certainly retain Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell ahead of the Indian Premier League 2022 mega-auction.
As per the retention rules, each existing franchise can retain up to four players – two Indians & two overseas or three Indians, and one overseas. The franchises are also allowed to retain only two uncapped players. With the mega-auctions in sight, the teams will be looking to retain their core players.
During an interaction on Star Sports, Irfan Pathan stated his four retention picks for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He pointed out that the franchise will be looking for a leader, as Virat Kohli has stepped down from the post. Pathan said,
“When it comes to the auction, they (RCB) will be looking for a leader, that is one thing for sure. The players they will be looking for sure would be, at number one Virat Kohli; number two, Glenn Maxwell”
Mohammed Siraj can be given the new ball, he can also bowl yorkers: Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan admitted that it will be tricky for RCB to choose four players from a talented pool. He picked Yuzvendra Chahal and Mohammed Siraj as the other two retentions for the Bangalore franchise. Pathan expressed that the duo offers different bowling skills. He said,
“The two other players that I would like to see getting retained – it’s slightly a tricky choice because they have Devdutt Padikkal, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj as well as Harshal Patel, who has been consistent for them – but out of these four, I would go for Chahal and Siraj because they can offer different bowling skills.”
Irfan added that if the franchise believes Harshal Patel can do well at their home ground in Bangalore, they may retain him ahead of Siraj.
“He [Siraj] can be given the new ball, he can bowl the yorkers as well. Yes, Harshal Patel will be a big talking point, but if RCB thinks, Harshal has the skill to do really well at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, then maybe (he will be retained) in place of Siraj,” Pathan concluded.
The existing IPL franchised can submit their retentions until November 30, as the mega-auctions are likely to take place in December.
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