IPL 2018: Rajasthan Royals unclear about player retention

Franchise will have to submit their wish list of players to be retain by January 4.

Rajasthan Royals

The two returning franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), will be able to retain up to five players who played for them in the 2015 edition, under the condition that they had turned out for one of the two previous teams Rising Pune Supergiant or Gujarat Lions.

While CSK is clear about whom to go with in the upcoming season, RR is still unsure whom to retain. As per Sportstar, Royal's bosses are in two minds whether to retain three players from the batch of 2015, or just pick them later, using the Right to Match (RTM) card.

The retained players list of 2018 will be submitted before 5th January, and RR is still in doubts.

Sportstar sources revealed that it would not be a big surprise if the franchise does not retain any of its players and later picks the likes of Steve Smith and Ajinkya Rahane using the Right to Match card.

Royals owner, Manoj Badale, had indicated that they would have preferred a different outcome. “We recognize that the BCCI’s efforts are towards creating a resilient and competitive tournament, however, we would have preferred a different outcome on this occasion,” Badale had said on December 6.

It's not only about the retentions. Royals are stuck on another puzzle. It's not clear if they will get to host matches at their home venue of Sawai Man Singh Stadium or not. Things would be clear when the Rajasthan High Court hears a case on the RCA issues on January 12.

In case, Jaipur misses out, the Royals already has back-up plans in Pune, Guwahati, and Indore.

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 31 Dec, 2017

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