Deadline for submitting list of retained players is November 26.
Amidst the ongoing IPL 2024 trading window, reportedly the first major movement has happened. As per reports Rajasthan Royals traded Devdutt Padikkal to Lucknow Super Giants and got Avesh Khan in return.
This is only the second trade ahead of the 2024 season, following Romario Shepherd's trade to the Mumbai Indians earlier this month. The IPL has set a deadline of November 26 for franchises to announce their retention lists.
As per ESPNCricinfo, the two franchises and the two players reached an agreement last week and the BCCI is expected to finalize the deal this week.
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Devdutt Padikkal had made his IPL debut in 2020 for Royal Challengers Bangalore and slammed 473 runs in his first season. He was then retained by the RCB for IPL 2021, but released before the IPL 2022 mega auction.
Rajasthan Royals paid INR 7.75 crores for Padikkal, but the left-hander struggled to repeat his RCB heroics for RR. In 28 matches in these two seasons, Padikkal scored 637 runs at an average of 23.59 and a strike rate of 125.88 with just three half-centuries. LSG will be the third team Padikkal will play for.
On the other hand, Avesh Khan had made his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals. He was then bought by Lucknow Super Giants in the mega auction in 2022 for INR 10 crores. The pacer struggled on low and slow surfaces in Lucknow in IPL 2023, picking just 8 wickets at 35.37 and an economy of 9.75.
He will join the Rajasthan Royals' Indian pace battery consisting of Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Sen, and others.