The IPL retentions list sure had a couple of surprises. But there were few usual suspects who dominated the process. They were expected to be retained and teams just couldn’t let them go. But only a selected Players Who Where Retained in Both 2018 & 2021. These players have been icons for their teams. They add a lot more value to the side than just performance.
We look at a few such players who were retained both in 2018 and 2021:
#9 Axar Patel
Axar Patel was one of the most surprising retentions of 2018 auctions. Punjab Kings had just retained a single player that year and that player was Axar Patel. He switched teams and moved to Delhi in 2020. Axar has been quietly brilliant for them. Delhi have retained him ahead of the 2022 season.
#8 Sunil Narine
Sunil Narine was one among the only two players who KKR had retained back in 2018. Narine had a sensational season in 2018 winning the MVP award. He had a mixed couple of seasons in 2019 & 2020. But he was back to his brilliant best in 2021. Narine was unplayable in UAE. KKR rightfully retained him ahead of the auctions.
#7 MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni and his band of CSK boys made a comeback in 2018. They ended up winning the title in 2018. CSK came close to repeating the feat in 2019 but lost in the finals. They ended the 4-year cycle on a high winning the title again in 2021. CSK primarily owe their success to their captain, MS Dhoni. Despite his low returns with the bat, CSK have shown faith and retained Dhoni again.
#6 Andre Russell
Andre Russell was the other KKR player who was retained in 2018 along with Narine. Russell won the MVP in 2019 smashing 510 runs at a strike rate above 180. He is considered one of the most destructive players in the format. Russell couldn’t really come to the party in 2021. But KKR awarded loyalty and have retained him in 2021 too.
#5 Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has really come into his own in the last couple of IPL seasons. If he was fine until 2018, he has been fantastic since then. MI retaining Bumrah was a no-brainer. He has been the cornerstone of MI’s bowling lineup. His retention in 2022 was a mere formality.
#4 Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant had a breakthrough season in 2018 scoring 600+ runs. It was the year Delhi retained him. Pant has since then grown from strength to strength. He even led the side this season. It was widely expected that Delhi will retain him and they rightly did.
#3 Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli was IPL’s costliest player until this retention. RCB paid Kohli a whopping INR 17 crores. Kohli quit captaincy post the 2021 season. But committed to playing for RCB as long as he played the IPL. RCB honoured his commitment and retained him this season too.
#2 Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma is the most successful IPL captain. He has won 5 IPL titles as captain. Sharma is arguably the most powerful player in the IPL. It was a no-brainer that Mumbai would retain Sharma. MI retained Sharma as their first choice retention just as they did it back in 2018.
#1 Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja was always expected to be one of CSK’s retentions. The franchise surprised everyone by picking him as their first choice retention. Jadeja surpassed franchise favourite, MS Dhoni to be picked for INR 16 crores. He is one of the biggest Indian players in the league and he deserved top billing.
