IPL Auctions have acquired a cult status over the years. Auctions have changed the lives of many players. Foreign players too have received financial windfall owing to the IPL contracts. The overseas players often end up deciding the fate of their respective teams. Hence teams have to tactfully plan their retentions and releases. Popular foreign players who got sold to other teams but were RTMed.
In 2014, IPL bought a new angle to the mega auctions. Teams could retain a maximum of 3 players before the auctions and use 2 RTM (Right-to-Match) at the time of the auctions. The RTM allows a team to buy back (player who represented the team in the preceding season) a player in the auction from another team. No matter what the price teams have bought back the players they have considered integral to their plans.
StumpsandBails looks at 5 overseas players who were sold to other teams but were RTMed:
#5 David Miller
In 2018, Punjab Kings went into the auction with a clean slate. MI, DC, and SRH were engaged in a 3-way race to acquire David Miller. At INR 3 crores MI outbid DC and SRH. But Punjab used their RTM to retain Miller.
#4 Faf Du Plessis
Faf du Plessis could have been playing for the Delhi Capitals had CSK not used their RTM in 2014. The Delhi Capitals (then known as Delhi Daredevils) won the bidding war to sign du Plessis for INR 4.75 crores. However, CSK matched their bid and got the South African star back in the squad. Faf continues to remain an integral part of CSK.
#3 Rashid Khan
SRH bought Rashid Khan for INR 4.2 crores in 2017 but didn’t retain him ahead of 2018 mega auctions. Punjab Kings bid INR 9 crores to acquire him but SRH successfully used the RTM to buy back Khan. He remains one of the most expensive RTMed players in the auction.
#2 Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada has been the heartbeat of the Delhi Capitals since 2017. It came as a surprise when DC didn’t retain Rabada ahead of the auctions. CSK bid Rabada for INR 4.2 crores in the auctions. But DC used their RTM card to buy back Rabada.
#1 Kieron Pollard
DC and Punjab were engaged in a 2 horsed race for acquiring the services of Kieron Pollard. Delhi got the better of Punjab when they bid INR 5.4 crores for the star Windies player. But MI successfully used their RTM to buy back Pollard.
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