IPL 2025 Retentions: Why was KKR deducted INR 69 crore despite spending INR 57 crore?

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders retained six players ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Rinku Singh was the top retention at INR 13 crore while the two West Indies all-rounders, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, were retained at INR 12 crore each. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy was also tagged the same amount whereas the two uncapped players Ramandeep Singh and Harshit Rana were secured for INR 4 crore each.

As per the IPL retention rules, different slabs were set for each retention - INR 18 crore for the first and fourth capped players, INR 14 crore for the second and fifth, INR 11 crore for the third while INR 4 crore uncapped players. Therefore, a franchise retaining five capped players would have lost at least INR 75 crore (18+14+11+18+14) whereas retaining an uncapped player in addition would have led to an INR 79 crore deduction.

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In total, KKR spent INR 57 crore from their pre-allotted purse of INR 120 crore. However, they were still deducted INR 69 crore, a total of INR 8 crore in excess. 

Notably, the franchises had the liberty to split the retention amount as per their choice and agreement with the concerned players, meaning that franchises were allowed to retain a player above or below the prescribed slab price. 

The rules, however, mandated that higher amount between actual expense and the prescribed slab will subtracted from a team’s purse, which is why INR 69 crore (18+14+11+18+4+4) - the sum as per the prescribed retention slabs - and not INR 57 crore - KKR's actual expense - was deducted from the franchise's INR 120 crore purse. 

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KKR have a total of 19 slots to be filled, out of which six have to be overseas players. With their already well-rounded setup, it will be intriguing as to how they end up shaping their squad for IPL 2025.