IPL25
Follow UsChennai Super Kings
Purse left: 55 crore
RTM options remaining: 1 (can be both capped or uncapped player)
RTM candidates: Devon Conway or Rachin Ravindra
Looking at the set of players CSK released from IPL 2024, there aren’t too many obvious candidates apart from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. While Conway is an opener and a wicketkeeping option, CSK might be more inclined to use their RTM for Rachin Ravindra.
The 24-year-old is as perfect as it could get for CSK, who are trying to build a future. A left-handed opener, a handy bowler and a future superstar, all of these things work in Rachin's favour.
Delhi Capitals
Purse left: INR 73 crore
RTM options remaining: 2 (can be one uncapped and one capped, or two capped players)
RTM candidates: Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar and Jake Fraser-McGurk/Harry Brook
Assuming that DC won’t go back to Rishabh Pant (because they released him), they have three options for using their RTM card: Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, and Jake Fraser-McGurk/Harry Brook. The reasons are quite simple: Khaleel and Mukesh have done really well for the franchise with the ball, and Indian pacers are quite rare.
From the batting perspective, the impact the young Australian had at the top can't be ignored. Brook, on the other hand, might be someone who can do well in Delhi given the conditions. But Brook's availability will certainly be a concern, given he's already missed one entire season.
Gujarat Titans
Purse left: INR 69 crore
RTM options remaining: 1 (one capped player)
RTM candidates: Mohammed Shami / Noor Ahmad / David Miller
All the above three names have made a huge impact for the Titans. That’s where it might get tricky for them because of each individual's different roles. While Shami is crucial for early breakthroughs in Ahmedabad, where conditions are seam-friendly, Noor is someone who takes the spin attack to the next level, forming a dangerous partnership with Rashid Khan.
David Miller’s experience as a finisher, too, can’t be ignored. So, one of the three options works well.
Lucknow Super Giants
Purse left: INR 69 crore
RTM options remaining: 1 (one capped player)
RTM candidates: Marcus Stoinis
Marcus Stoinis. That’s the name. That’s the name that Lucknow would get back into their mix, given how much of an all-rounder Stoinis is. Not just in terms of being able to both bat and bowl, but in terms of how versatile he is just as a batter as well.
Mumbai Indians
Purse left: INR 45 crore
RTM options remaining: 1 (uncapped player)
RTM candidates: Nehal Wadhera / Anshul Kamboj / Naman Dhir
Given that Mumbai can only retain uncapped players, they will have to choose one of Nehal Wadhera, Anshul Kamboj or Naman Dhir. Last year, they showed incredible faith in Dhir at No.3, which makes him a great option.
But if you look at how MI have historically operated, they wouldn’t blink twice before retaining someone like Anshul Kamboj, who has only grown since the last IPL, with a great show in red-ball cricket. If neither, then Nehal Wadhera could be the RTM option.
Punjab Kings
Purse left: INR 110.5 crore
RTM options remaining: 4 (all four can be capped players)
RTM candidates: Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow / Liam Livingstone
Punjab will go into the auction with quite the bank. To add to that, they will also have four RTM options, the most for any franchise, which means they could get back a lot of their former players. Arshdeep Singh should be a no-brainer, considering he’s an Indian left-arm pacer.
Sam Curran might be dicey, but his RTM might depend on Ponting. However, there’s a strong chance that Ponting would want to retain Rabada, who is in crazy red-ball form at the moment. Apart from these three, the franchise can also select one between Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone. Livingstone’s current form will definitely tempt Ponting.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Purse left: INR 83 crore
RTM options remaining: 3 (can be one uncapped and two capped players, or three capped players)
RTM candidates: Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj
Like PBKS, RCB obviously have a lot of RTM options. But there are only four options that are worth exploring the RTM card for. One of them is the English all-rounder Will Jacks, who can hit the ball a long way and obviously contribute with off-breaks. He is also a future superstar who will likely hit his peak during the next cycle.
The costlier option for RTM would be Glenn Maxwell, who would yet again be in so much demand. But a player of his calibre will always be welcome anywhere. If not the overseas options, the franchise could look in the direction of Mahipal Lomror and Mohammed Siraj.
Siraj can bolster RCB with his powerplay and death bowling, while Lomror offers that bite with the bat in the middle-order. Mind you, Lomror is in terrific red-ball form currently; his last four scores for Rajasthan read 300*, 111, 6 & 99.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Purse left: INR 45 crore
RTM options remaining: 1 (has to be an uncapped player)
RTM candidates: Abdul Samad
Amongst uncapped options, SRH have Sanvir Singh, Abdul Samad and Mayank Markande. Considering their setup, they likely won't look beyond Samad. Quite a powerful force down the order and a finisher-in-progress, SRH would still have faith that the youngster might end up having a breakthrough campaign very soon like Abhishek Sharma did in IPL 2024.
In IPL 2024, Samad smashed 182 runs at a strike rate of 168.52, showing his power-hitting capabilities.
Note: Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals don’t have any RTM cards, which is why they are not in this list.
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