IPL 2022 Retention: Virat Kohli has taken a pay cut for the larger interest of RCB, says Parthiv Patel

Former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel lauded Virat Kohli’s decision to take a pay cut, saying the call would have been taken by the India Test and ODI captain, keeping in mind the larger interest of the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction.

Virat Kohli, who was retained for Rs 17 crore ahead of the last mega auction, was RCB’s first pick on Tuesday’s retention. However, he was retained for Rs 15 crore while Glenn Maxwell took home Rs 11 crore. RCB retained Mohammed Siraj as their third player for IPL 2022 for Rs 7 crore.

RCB spent a total sum of Rs 33 crore and they are left with Rs 57 crore purse for the mega auction. There were a few surprises as RCB did not retain leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal or Purple Cap Holder of IPL 2021, Harshal Patel.

Each of the eight franchises used the Player Retention option with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals (DC), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) opting to retain 4 players each. The PBKS, who retained only.2 players, have the highest salary purse available with INR 72 crore while Delhi Capitals have the least at INR 47.50 to be used at the mega auction.

“I think he has taken a pay cut in the larger interest of the team. If he had taken Rs 17 crore, those Rs 2 crore would have been cut from their kitty. The larger interest of the team, he has taken that call and it’s the right call as well.

“We all know how good a player Virat Kohli is. It’s the right decision from him,” Parthiv Patel told Star Sports on Tuesday.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME FOR RCB: VIRAT KOHLI

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli said he had no second thoughts when he was contacted by RCB for retention. The India captain quit as RCB skipper after IPL 2021 wherein the former finalists reached the play-offs. He promised that he would continue playing for RCB until the time he retires from competitive cricket.

“When I was contacted I didn’t have any second thoughts at all. I believe the best is yet to come, I have a good feeling about what’s to come from the next season onwards. Committed as an RCBian, we could not be more thankful,” Kohli said.

“I’ll be there with my heart and soul for RCB as always,” he added.

2 new teams, Ahmedabad and Lucknow, will join IPL 2022 and they will be allowed to pick 3 players each from the list of players who have not been retained. The window for the two new teams to do so is from December 1 to 25.