Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has speculated that Gujarat Titans (GT) might not retain their key pacer Mohammed Shami for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). According to the IPL retention rules, each franchise can retain a maximum of six players, with one being an uncapped player. The retention fees are hefty, with the first retention costing INR 18 crores, the second INR 14 crores, and the third INR 11 crores.
Additional retentions for the fourth and fifth players would cost INR 18 and INR 14 crores, respectively, while an uncapped player can be retained for INR 4 crores. Given these rules, Aakash Chopra believes that Gujarat Titans will retain their star players, Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan, while the third retention could go to Sai Sudharsan, who has shown promise over the past few seasons.
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Aakash Chopra explained that Sudharsan is a valuable asset, and if he were to enter the auction, he would likely command between INR 8 to 10 crores, making it sensible for GT to retain him for INR 11 crores.
However, when it comes to the fourth retention, Chopra feels that the franchise might hesitate to invest such a significant amount in any other player. He mentioned that players like David Miller, Kane Williamson, and Shami could be bought back in the auction for a lower price. Shami’s injury issues, particularly his recent knee injury that ruled him out of the 2024 edition of the IPL, might be a factor in GT’s decision to not retain him.
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“One retention is a no-brainer—Shubman Gill. The second is Rashid Khan, another easy choice. Sai Sudharsan should be the third because if he goes to the market, he’ll fetch 8 to 10 crores easily,” Aakash Chopra commented on his YouTube channel. “After that, there’s no player worth spending 18 crores on, whether it’s Kane Williamson, Mohammed Shami, or David Miller. I don’t think GT will retain Shami due to his injury concerns,” he added.
Despite his injury, Shami was Gujarat’s leading wicket-taker in the 2023 IPL edition. However, his fitness remains a question mark for future seasons.
