Kohli, Maxwell, Rohit, Dhoni retained; Rahul, Chahal released

TIL Desk Sports/ Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni were predictably retained by their respective IPL teams on Tuesday, while Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, KL Rahul and Yuzvendra Chahal were among the big names to be released ahead of the mega auction.

Royal Challengers Bangalore retained their former captain Kohli alongside Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj. Even before the players’ retention deadline, it was a given that Mumbai Indians would retain India’s T20 captain Rohit Sharma and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

India’s greatest white ball skipper and Chennai Super Kings talisman Dhoni is his team’s second retention behind all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja while Ruturaj Gaikwad is the fourth name in the list. Moeen Ali has also been retained by CSK.

The major names to be released are out of form all-rounder Hardik Pandya and dashing keeper batter Ishan Kishan, who have been a part of Mumbai Indians core while leg-spinner Chahal and Purple Cap winner Harshal Patel have been released by RCB. It must be noted that Virat Kohli from his previous salary of Rs 17 crore has taken a pay cut and will be paid Rs 15 crore.

“The journey continues and I had no second thoughts in staying back for another three years. The management has been amazing and I am grateful and excited. Our best is yet to come,” said Kohli, who stepped down from captaincy after the last edition.