Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra wants Virat Kohli to be Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first retention ahead of IPL 2025 mega auctions. Chopra said it won’t be a bad idea for Kohli and the franchise if he takes back the captaincy baton.
Virat Kohli was once again at his absolute best for RCB, scoring 741 runs in 15 innings at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69 in IPL 2024. Kohli ended the tournament as the highest run-getter and bagged the Orange Cap award. Thus, he played an instrumental role in taking RCB to the playoffs.
“One guy to retain is Virat Kohli. Of course, he comes as the first retention and you need to keep Virat Kohli with you, both Bengaluru and Kohli believe that. So I am seeing another three-year retention. For all we know, Virat Kohli might want to be the leader again, or else you have to go shopping for a leader,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator feels RCB might not retain the foreign quartet of Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Alzarri Joseph, and Lockie Ferguson.
“I feel Faf du Plessis might not be on the retention list for the simple reason that you are looking at a three-year future and Faf is not getting younger by the day. It’s a pivotal moment where you have to decide between immediate future and long-term gain,” Chopra explained.
“So Faf might be released there. I don’t think they would want to retain Glenn Maxwell at all. They will say tata bye-bye. Alzarri Joseph, Lockie Ferguson – tata bye-bye to everyone,” he added.
The former KKR batter added that RCB might want to build their team around Cameron Green. Chopra predicted that the Australian might fetch INR 14-15 crores if he is released into the auctions.
“One more player they might want to retain is Cameron Green because they might be able to build their team around Cameron Green, and Cameron Green is the kind of all-rounder that if he goes into the auction, he will take 14-15 crores. Although they couldn’t get him to bat where he should have, he is a bowler and batter and hits decently,” Chopra said.
Chopra added that RCB might want to retain Rajat Patidar and Mohammed Siraj. Patidar scored 395 runs in 13 innings at an average of 30.38 and a strike rate of 177.13 whereas Siraj scalped 15 wickets in 14 matches in IPL 2024.
“Think about Rajat Patidar, whether you want to retain him. If he goes into the auction, he will also go for five to six crores. Yash Dayal, Mohammed Siraj – maybe Mohammed Siraj and that’s about it. I don’t think this team needs to retain anyone apart from them. Three or four max, they would neither want to retain more people than that nor use the ‘Right to Match’ card for them,” Chopra elaborated.
