Continuing from where we left off in the last article, we look at the next best retentions for RCB, CSK and DC.
Using the latest cricket data from Spoda we perform data analytics in cricket and this articles intends to complete a deep dive into the possible retentions and why they should be retained for this season.
Royal Challengers Bangalore – Retentions.
Virat Kohli is the first and most obvious retention with him continuing his run-scoring spree. Having scored 741 runs in 15 innings, Kohli averaged 61.75 and struck at 154.7 for the season. And he has the added benefit of being the highest-ever run-scorer in the competition.
Will Jacks ought to be the second retention RCB make, who promises to be a long-term investment as well, and his performance last season, 230 runs at an average of 32.9 and a strike rate of 175.6 stand out. Paired with his ability to bowl, he may well replace Maxwell in the future. In 2024, Will Jacks struck at 153 in the Powerplay and 146 through the middle overs making him a valuable asset.
Faf du Plessis is extremely fit, and his tactical proficiency means he can play at least a minimum of 3-4 seasons more of the IPL. As captain, his batting has remained the same explosive self. He has scored his runs at an average of 41.7 and a strike rate of 156.6 since 2023! His strike rate rising to 164.1 in the Powerplay as well!
Yash Dayal should be the uncapped retention they make, Dayal had his best season in the IPL in 2024, and coupled with further India A recognition, he has never been better! He led RCB with the ball from the front, and his ability at 4 crores is a steal.
Rajat Patidar should be their first RTM, with him not earning more than 10 crore due to auction dynamics, it is a risk worth taking. He has averaged 38.3 and struck at 165.3 but these numbers skyrocket to an average of 63.5 and strike rate of 185.9 against spin! In IPL 2024, he struck at 199 against spin and out of his 15 dismissals, only four were against spin!
Chennai Super Kings - Retentions
Ruturaj Gaikwad is the first name on the CSK team sheet and as their skipper, will likely retained for the first slot, even though his T20 performances may not command that sort of money. Gaikwad has averaged 46.9 and struck at 144.3 since 2023!
Ravindra Jadeja must be their second retention pick, he has flown under the radar, while his bowling might not be at its peak, he has an economy of 7.69 and an average of 28.6 with the ball, while he averages 32.6 with bat and strikes at 142.8 and has a dot ball percentage of just 25.3 since 2023!
Mateesha Pathirana has to be retained, releasing him into the auction is a move the Super Kings will regret, keeping in mind his bowling ability at the death, with only two bowlers managing economies under 9, Pathirana and Bumrah. Since 2023, Pathirana has 22 wickets at an economy of 8.28 and an average of 12.86! With 62.5% of his overs for CSK coming at the death!
MS Dhoni is a budget-friendly uncapped retention option, who offers unparalleled keeping abilities coupled with a great tactical mindset and powerful finishing at the death! His average of 31.46 and strike rate of 195.69 since 2022 in the death speaks for itself!
Devon Conway is an RTM pick the Super Kings should look to go for, with him being a solid and consistent option alongside Gaikwad while offering a back-up keeping option. Conway has averaged 48.6 and struck at 141.3 in his time at CSK!
Rachin Ravindra is another promising youngster who offers a massive ceiling and must be picked with an RTM option, while his records may not span quality numbers yet, he will improve and his average of 32 and strike rate of 205 at Chepauk speaks to his talent!
Delhi Capitals - Players to Retain.
Rishabh Pant has to be retained, he has averaged 29.2 since 2023 striking at 143.8, with 4.9 balls per boundary, but his strike rate against spin rises to 176.1 during the same period. Add in his captaincy and keeping ability, Pant is the first retention for the Delhi Capitals!
Axar Patel is the second retention they should look to make, with his batting and bowling having come along leaps and bounds. Averaging 27.2 and striking at 143.1 with bat while taking 77 wickets with an economy of 7.2 through the middle overs!
Tristan Stubbs should be their third retention, who showed the world what he could do in the death overs this season, an immense and destructive batter, he struck at 297.33 in the last four overs, scoring a boundary once every 2.2 balls!
Their ideal uncapped retention should be Abishek Porel who scored 327 runs at 32.7 and struck at 159.91, and his natural talent means he will only keep getting better, and he solves their opening dilemma for years to come.
Kuldeep Yadav should be retained using the RTM option, being a shrewd piece of of business with spinners usually not going for more than 10 crore unless they have a secondary skill-set! Kuldeep bowls 82.42% of his overs in the middle and has an economy of 7.7 during this phase, forming a great duo with Axar!
Jake Fraser-McGurk is another RTM option the Delhi Capitals should look for, with JFM solving their opening dilemma, alongside Abishek Porel, JFM was the hardest hitting batter in the IPL last year, with his record in the powerplay a standout one, he struck at 250.94 in the first six overs!
Data for this retentions article was collected from spoda.ai, the world's first cricket intelligence tool that uses data and makes cricket analytics simple and offers you an all-in-one cricket analytics solution.
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