"They will just retain Virat Kohli, release everyone else, and use the RTM" - RP Singh on RCB's potential retentions ahead of IPL 2025 Auction

RP Singh reckons the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will retain only Virat Kohli ahead of the IPL 2025 Auction. He pointed out that the rest of the players might not be too expensive at the auction and can be reacquired through the Right to Match (RTM) Card.

The IPL Governing Council announced the player regulations for the next three seasons on Saturday, September 28. The franchises can retain a total of six players, with a maximum of five capped ones, via retention or the RTM option.

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, RP Singh opined that RCB would release everyone apart from Virat Kohli ahead of the auction.

"I feel they don't have any problem. They will just retain Virat Kohli, release everyone else, and use the RTM. If we see the value taking Rajat Patidar as an example, will we get him for more or less than 11 crores at the auction?" he said.

The former India pacer feels the likes of Rajat Patidar and Mohammed Siraj are unlikely to reach bids of 14 crores at the auction.

"I feel you will get Rajat Patidar for fewer. So you get him back at the auction. Even if he reaches close to 11 crores, you have the RTM which you can use there," RP Singh observed.

"Siraj, performance-wise, you will have to again judge whether you will get him close to 11 crores. I don't think Siraj will reach close to 14 crores. They will always have the option that if he reaches there, you can use the RTM," he added.

While the first capped player retention will cost a franchise ₹18 crore, the second and third capped player retentions will lead to a cut of ₹14 crore and ₹11 crore respectively from the purse. The fourth and fifth capped player retentions will cost a franchise ₹18 crore and ₹14 crore respectively.

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"All of them won't reach close to 4 crores" - RP Singh on RCB's potential uncapped retentions

In the same discussion, RP Singh opined that RCB's uncapped players like Anuj Rawat and Rajan Kumar are unlikely to be sold for more than four crores at the auction.

"If you talk about uncapped players, you took the name of Anuj Rawat and there is a left-arm pacer in Rajan Kumar, a good fast bowler who didn't play, but all of them won't reach close to four crores," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the Bengaluru-based franchise should look to build the team around Virat Kohli with a fresh mindset.

"So they should go with a new mindset. They need Virat, he has contributed a lot to the franchise, and Virat is the most important player as well. So they should think about building the team around him, or with a new thought. I don't see anyone else apart from Virat Kohli having a value of 18 or 14 crores in this team," RP Singh stated.

Faf du Plessis, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell and Will Jacks will likely be among the overseas retention options for RCB. It remains to be seen if the three-time finalists retain Du Plessis as their skipper or look for a new captain for the upcoming season.