'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) coach Tom Moody feels that the franchise will have a hard time figuring out how to keep a hold of Abhishek Sharma from a financial point of view. The left-handed batter's stocks have risen following a blockbuster 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign, while SRH have a lot of proven international players lined up for the higher retention slab slots.
The new retention rules allow two players to be retained at INR 18 crore, and two for INR 14 crore, and one at INR 11 crore, which takes up a huge chunk of the INR 120 crore purse. SRH have reputed performers like their skipper Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Heinrich Klaasen to consider. With no limit set on overseas retentions, the 2024 IPL runner-ups have the option to keep hold of all three if they wish to.
Tom Moody feels that Abhishek Sharma will have his eye set on the INR 14 crore slab, because he might fetch that amount or more if he is thrown back into the auction pool.
"To me, SRH have got the hardest job out of a lot of the teams purely because I do not think Abhishek Sharma is going to be accepting a retention below INR 14 crore. Because he will be picked up for INR 14 crore plus at any other franchise or most other franchises," Moody said on ESPN Cricinfo.
"So, they have got to somehow find a way to get their most influential players in Cummins and Head. In my head, they are the two along with Abhishek Sharma and still have the flexibility of right to match," he added.
Abhishek Sharma has now also got into the national setup on the back of his IPL 2024 heroics. He made his debut in the away series against Zimbabwe in July, recording a hundred in just his third appearance.
Abhishek Sharma has been part of SRH since the 2019 season
The youngster, initially part of the Delhi franchise, moved to SRH as part of a trade that saw Dhawan return to his former franchise. The 2022 season turned out to be a gamechanger as he was slotted at the top of the order. He made the most of the opportunity, recording 426 runs at a strike rate of 133.13.
He found the perfect opening partner in Travis Head for the 2024 season as the duo wreaked havoc with their ultra-aggressive batting style. Sharma finished the season with 484 runs at a strike rate of 204.22.
