The BCCI recently released the rules and regulations for IPL 2025. A team can retain a maximum of six players before the mega-auction. If a team retains six players, then it will have to shell out Rs 79 crore. Also, the team with six retentions will not have the Right to Match (RTM) card at the auction.
The first-choice and fourth-choice retentions will earn Rs 18 crore each. The second, third and fourth-choice retentions will earn Rs 14, 11 and 18 crore, respectively. Virat Kohli, who has been Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) first-choice retention since 2011, looks set to earn Rs 18 crore.
Even though Virat isn't RCB's captain, he is the face of the franchise and there's no doubt over his future with the franchise. Should Virat become RCB's first-choice retention, it will be the first time when he will be retained for Rs 18 crore. But Virat won't be the first player to be retained for this huge amount.
There has been only one player in IPL's history who has been retained for more than Rs 18 crore. Sam Curran, who joined Punjab Kings (PBKS) for Rs 18.50 crore in the IPL 2023 mini-auction, holds this record.
PBKS decided against releasing Curran before IPL 2024 and he was paid Rs 18.50 crore once again, which made him the costliest retention in IPL's history.
Curran scored 276 runs and scalped 10 wickets in IPL 2013. He finished the IPL 2024 season with 270 runs and 16 wickets. Curran also got to lead PBKS in both seasons in Shikhar Dhawan's absence.
Virat shares the second spot with KL Rahul. Virat was retained by RCB for Rs 17 crore before the IPL 2018 mega-auction and he earned the same amount till IPL 2021. He was retained for Rs 15 crore before the IPL 2022 mega-auction.
Rahul joined Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for Rs 17 crore before IPL 2022 and earned the same amount over the next three seasons. Rahul will most likely earn Rs 18 crore if LSG retain him before IPL 2025 mega-auction.