IPL 2024 Auction: Franchise Retentions and Releases: As the cricketing world gears up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction, all 10 franchises have finalized their player retentions and releases. The announcement has sparked considerable interest, with major moves and strategic decisions defining each team’s approach. Here are the key highlights from the list of retained and released players:

Mumbai Indians:

• Notable Retention: Mumbai Indians secured the return of Hardik Pandya, marking a significant move in the auction dynamics.
• Trade Update: Cameron Green moves from Mumbai Indians to Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Delhi Capitals:

• Retained Core: Delhi Capitals maintain a strong core, including captain Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, and others.
• Release Decisions: Players like Manish Pandey, Mustafizur Rahman, and Rovman Powell are released by the franchise.

Rajasthan Royals:

• Leadership and Retained Stars: Sanju Samson continues to lead the team, with key players like Jos Buttler, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Yuzvendra Chahal retained.
• Departures: Notable departures include Joe Root, Jason Holder, and Akash Vashisht.

Punjab Kings:

• Shikhar Dhawan to Lead: Shikhar Dhawan takes on the captaincy for Punjab Kings.
• Retained Talents: The team holds onto stars like Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, and Harpreet Brar.
• Outgoing Players: Shahrukh Khan and others are released by the franchise.

Chennai Super Kings:

• Dhoni Continues as Captain: MS Dhoni remains at the helm for Chennai Super Kings.
• Star Departures: Ben Stokes, Ambati Rayudu, and Kyle Jamieson are among the notable players released.

Kolkata Knight Riders:

• Squad Core Intact: Nitish Rana, Sunil Narine, and Venkatesh Iyer are among the key retentions.
• Shakib Al Hasan and others released: The team parted ways with Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, and other players.

Sunrisers Hyderabad:

• Strategic Releases: Sunrisers Hyderabad releases players like Harry Brook, Kartik Tyagi, and Adil Rashid.
• Abdul Samad Retained: Young talent Abdul Samad continues with the franchise.

Lucknow Super Giants:

• KL Rahul to Captain: KL Rahul assumes captaincy for Lucknow Super Giants.
• Released Players: Jaydev Unadkat, Daniel Sams, and others are released.

Gujarat Titans:

• Hardik Pandya Returns: Gujarat Titans welcome back Hardik Pandya as captain.
• Shubman Gill as Skipper: Shubman Gill was named captain after Hardik Pandya’s return.
• Releases and Trades: Several players released, including Shivam Mavi. Hardik Pandya traded to Mumbai Indians.

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

• Faf du Plessis to Lead: Faf du Plessis takes over as captain for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
• Retained Core: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and others retained.
• Trade Action: Mayank Dagar is in from Sunrisers Hyderabad. Cameron Green was acquired from Mumbai Indians.

The IPL 2024 auction promises to be a dynamic event with teams reshaping their squads based on strategic retentions and releases. The anticipation builds as cricket enthusiasts await the bidding war to unfold in the quest for assembling winning combinations for the upcoming season.