RCB Retention History: Players Retained Before IPL 2025 and Past Mega Auctions

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council recently announced the player retention rules for the 2025-2027 cycle. These new regulations cover a range of guidelines, including the much-anticipated retention rules, which will shape the squads for the upcoming season. In this article, we’ll explore the player retentions by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team over the years and their possible choices for the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction.

IPL 2025 Retention Rules: What You Need to Know

As per the IPL’s new announcement, each team can retain up to six players from their 2024 squad. This can be done through outright retention or by using the Right to Match (RTM) option. Franchises also have the option to release all players and then use their RTM cards during the auction to buy them back.

However, there are limits:

• Up to five capped players (which can be Indian or overseas) can be retained.
• A maximum of two uncapped Indian players can also be retained.

A Twist in the Uncapped Player Rule

The IPL has also brought back a rule that allows some capped players to be treated as uncapped. If an Indian player has not played international cricket in the last five years or doesn’t have a central contract with the BCCI, he can be considered an uncapped player. This rule was in place from 2008 until 2021 but was removed for the last few years. Now, it returns for the 2025 season, giving teams more flexibility in deciding which players to retain.

RCB’s Retention Strategy for IPL 2025

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) might retain up to three players directly and use three RTM cards during the mega auction, which is likely to be held in November or December 2024. The deadline to announce player retentions is October 31, 2024. Historically, RCB has never retained more than three players before a mega auction, and they might follow a similar strategy this year.

RCB Retained Players Over the Years

RCB has been a part of the IPL since its inception in 2008. Over the years, they have gone through several mega auctions, each time deciding on which players to retain to maintain the core of their team. Let’s take a look at RCB’s retained player list before each mega auction.

RCB Retained Player List Before IPL 2011 Mega Auction

Ahead of the 2011 mega auction, RCB chose to completely revamp their squad and retained only one player—the young and talented Virat Kohli. At that time, Kohli was retained for $1,800,000. This decision turned out to be significant, as Kohli went on to become one of the most successful players in the league.

RCB Retained Player List Before IPL 2014 Mega Auction

In 2014, RCB decided to keep their core trio intact by retaining:

• Virat Kohli for INR 12.50 crore,
• Chris Gayle for INR 9.50 crore,
• AB de Villiers for INR 7.50 crore.

They also used the RTM card to buy back Harshal Patel for INR 40 lakhs. This core group was a mix of explosive batting and emerging talent, setting a solid foundation for the team.

RCB Retained Player List Before IPL 2018 Mega Auction

Ahead of the 2018 auction, RCB once again retained:

• Virat Kohli for INR 17 crore,
• AB de Villiers for INR 11 crore,
• In a surprising move, they also retained Sarfaraz Khan for INR 1.75 crore, though INR 3 crore was deducted from their purse.

Additionally, they used the RTM card to bring back:

• Yuzvendra Chahal for INR 6 crore,
• Pawan Negi for INR 1 crore.

The retention of Sarfaraz Khan raised a few eyebrows, but it was a gamble on young talent.

RCB Retained Player List Before IPL 2022 Mega Auction

In 2022, with two new teams joining the IPL, RCB opted to retain:

• Virat Kohli for INR 16 crore,
• Glenn Maxwell for INR 11 crore,
• Mohammed Siraj for INR 7 crore.

These players formed a mix of experience, power-hitting, and skillful bowling, aiming to strengthen the team’s core.

What Could RCB’s Retention Look Like for IPL 2025?

Based on their historical trends, RCB might retain three key players and use three RTM cards to buy back additional talent during the auction. With Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, and possibly a young star like Rajat Patidar, RCB might once again aim to balance their squad with both experienced and emerging players.

The new RTM rule, allowing the highest bidder to increase their offer before a team uses the RTM, could play a crucial role in how RCB approaches the mega auction. If they decide to use their RTM cards, they may need to pay a higher price to match any increased bids from other franchises.

Conclusion: RCB’s Retention Journey So Far

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have always focused on retaining a core set of players, especially those who have been instrumental to their performance. Virat Kohli has been the constant in their retention list, having been retained before every mega auction. Players like AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and Glenn Maxwell have also been part of the core group at various points.

As RCB prepares for the IPL 2025 mega auction, they face the challenge of deciding whether to retain key players and spend a significant portion of their auction purse or use the RTM cards and risk facing increased bids. Whatever the decision, RCB will be hoping to finally build a squad capable of winning their first-ever IPL title.