IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals Likely To Retain Four Players
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) are likely to retain four players ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, including Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag and Sandeep Sharma. Surprisingly, wicketkeeper-opening batter, Jos Buttler and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal are not part of the initial retention list, however the Royals have the right-to-match for both and can try bringing them back at the auctions, as per reports. Rajasthan Royals Deliberating On Jurel Another name that has been deliberated is the wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, picked up for INR 20 lakhs in an auction conducted to pick a team for the 2022 season. Recently, Jurel received his first India test cap playing a home test against England. It has been revealed that Jurel has been quite influential from the bottom end. For 22 innings, Dhruv Jurel has shown his excellence to hit at a strike rate of 151.52 for scoring 347 runs. Budget Implications For Rajasthan Royals These four retentions would take a minimum of INR 47 crore from the budget for the Royals. Including Jurel, that could take it to a higher INR 65 crore that would leave only INR 55 crore available to spend in the auction. As Sandeep is an uncapped player having not played international cricket over five years, there’s also the factor of regulations imposed by the IPL regarding a player’s status as one who has never represented any national team in any International Cricket match. Retained Player Performances This retained player group was crucial to the Royals’ making it to the IPL 2024 playoffs. Samson had his best IPL season with 531 runs, while Parag also had his most successful IPL season with 573 runs and earned a T20I debut with India. Sandeep, who was bought during the 2023 auction at INR 50 lakh, picked up 13 wickets at an economy of 8.18 and performed well in the powerplay and death overs. Although Jaiswal’s 2024 season was a bit subdued (435 runs at a 152 strike rate), he is one of India’s most promising young openers. RR Uncertain For Buttler And Chahal Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, who have done so well in the past, have been considered to be in the retention list after their recent form and fitness issues. Buttler scored 359 runs with a strike rate of 141 in IPL 2024 but has been out since the T20 World Cup semi-final due to injuries. Chahal, on the other hand, stands as the highest wicket-taker in IPL’s history with 18 last season with an economy of 9.41 on most occasions when he bowls as an Impact Player to the Royals. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Duleep Trophy 2024: Top 5 Batters To Watch Out For
As the Indian domestic cricket season gets underway with the Duleep Trophy 2024, from September 5 to September 22, all eyes will be on a new format that brings into play teams called India A, India B, India C and India D in a round-robin format. There are no knockout phases in this year’s tournament, but it should be an important platform for cricketers looking to secure places in the Indian Test team for tours to Bangladesh and New Zealand later this year. Following are five batters who might make a difference in Duleep Trophy 2024. Riyan Parag Having performed consistently in domestic cricket and one breakout season in the IPL, Riyan Parag has already made his presence known in limited-overs formats. The 22-year-old from Assam will be keen to carry the success into the red-ball format. Having an First-Class average of 36.69 from 29 matches and three centuries to his name, Parag’s dual capabilities with the bat and ball can inch him closer to a national team call-up if he comes good in the Duleep Trophy. Devdutt Padikkal A brilliant last season in domestic cricket earned him a Test debut in which he also made a half-century. But a disappointing IPL 2024-just 78 runs-has Padikkal wanting to make amends. The Duleep Trophy presents a very good chance for Padikkal to regain form and make his case for a middle-order spot in the national side. Musheer Khan Only 19, Musheer Khan is one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket. He has only a limited amount of First-Class experience. So with Khan’s good recent form, including a Ranji Trophy double hundred, he is marked as one to watch out for. His success with the ball recently adds another dimension to his game, and he may turn out to be one of the standouts in this year’s Duleep Trophy. Sai Sudharsan Another talented name coming from Tamil Nadu is Sai Sudharsan, who has impressed many with his talents in domestic T20 and List A cricket. Fresh from a good series with his debut series in South Africa and an even better IPL 2024, Sudharsan is keen to now assert himself in red-ball cricket. With a First-Class average of 36.90, the 22-year-old will be eyeing the Duleep Trophy for what it can get him. Ishan Kishan Ishan Kishan will enter the Duleep Trophy with much to prove. With no First-Class cricket since mid-2023, Kishan has already found instant competition for his slot of wicketkeeper in the Indian Test team with Dhruv Jurel’s emergence and return of Rishabh Pant. A good performance with bat and gloves will make a strong case for Kishan’s national selection. While these cricketers will be contesting for national recognition, the Duleep Trophy is one more playground where skills will have to be displayed as a case for higher honors. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL vs IND: Riyan Parag Shines With The Ball On ODI Debut
07th August, 2024, is surely a day Riyan Parag will remember for ages. And it’s not only for his ODI debut for the Indian Cricket Team against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo but also for the three wickets he took in the eight overs he bowled. Skipper Shows Faith Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat. India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma soon handed over the ball to Riyan Parag. And he lived up to the skipper’s expectations. Parag, the 256th player to represent India in ODI’s spun a web and trapped Avishka Fernando (96 off 102), Charith Asalanka (10 off 12) and Dunith Wellalage (2 off 3). Parag’s First ODI Wicket Avishka Fernando was thoroughly overdue a deserved hundred, on 96 from 102 balls, 9 fours and 2 sixes, but then stepped Riyan Parag and everything had to change: he dismissed Fernando when he was only 4 runs from the magic figure—breaking an important partnership in the process. Parag Traps The Opposition Captain Parag wasn’t done yet. The very next over, he trapped the Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka leg-before-wicket. After a bit of consultation with Kusal Mendis, Asalanka decided to review the decision. UltraEdge confirmed there was no bat involved, while HawkEye lights showed three reds, thus sealing Asalanka’s fate on 10 runs off 12 balls. A 3 Wicket Haul On Debut Next in to bat was Dunith Wellalage, who was in dangerous form in the previous couple of games. However, Parag was unstoppable, clean bowling Wellalage with just 2 runs off 3 balls. Riyan Parag, who usually plays as a batting all-rounder has not only delivered with the ball in the 3rd ODI against Sri Lanka but also was one of the key members in the bowling unit while undoing the Sri Lankan batters in the recent T20I series. Well if Parag keeps on delivering the goods with the ball, it wouldn’t be surprising to call it a ‘Reverse Steve Smith Phenomenon.’ The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye