According to media reports, there is a strong possibility that wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul and Rajasthan Royals (RR) wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel will be included in the auction. IPL franchises jointly retain six players by opting for retention and right-to-match (RTM) options. There can be a maximum of five capped players and a maximum of two uncapped players in retention.
Rahul has scored 1410 runs in 38 matches for Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the 2022 season. Despite this, sources have indicated that he is likely to feature in the mega auction rather than being retained by the franchise. According to a source, 'There is a lot of talk that Rahul really wants to enter the mega auction because LSG cannot retain him. Depending on the outcome of various discussions regarding the players to be retained or the retention price, no one should be surprised if Rahul features in the auction list.
Rahul has previously represented Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL. If he lands in the mega auction, it would not be surprising to see many teams vying to include him in their set-up, especially given his unique combination of being a capped wicketkeeper-batsman and prior leadership experience.
Meanwhile, sources told IANS that Jurel, who has played 28 IPL matches for Rajasthan Royals from the 2023 season, is another capped Indian wicketkeeper-batsman to feature in the mega auction after flatly refusing to be retained by the franchise. Jurel, who made his Test and T20 debut for India this year, has earned a name in the IPL through his finishing skills. He came as an impact player for the franchise in their matches and impressed everyone in the cricketing environment with his solid nature and work ethic.
IANS has also learned that an unnamed senior Rajasthan Royals official was spotted in Bengaluru, where the Indian team is currently playing the first match of the Test series against New Zealand. This shows that the franchise is still in talks with Jurel to retain him.
In the last IPL auction, wicketkeeper batsmen like Ishan Kishan, Kumar Kushagra and Robin Minz have fetched huge sums in the auction due to their excellent skills. Rahul and Jurel will attract a lot of attention and potentially high bids if they feature in the upcoming mega auction.
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