‘Can you retain Faf du Plessis for three years?’ - Aakash Chopra discusses RCB’s potential retentions for IPL 2025

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra recently opened up on the players Royal Challengers Bengaluru should retain keeping the mega-auction in mind ahead of the Indian Premier League 2025. Chopra noted that the star batter Virat Kohli will definitely be RCB’s first retention in the tournament but he is unsure whether the franchise will continue with Faf du Plessis, who led the team in the last three years.

He analyzed that the former South Africa international is already 40 years old and may not continue for another cycle, which is likely to be three years. Chopra added that he would like to see RCB retain Cameron Green, who has done well for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023 and did a decent job for the Bengaluru-based franchise in 2024. Chopra also wants RCB to retain Mohammed Siraj as getting hold of Indian pacers is never an easy task in the IPL.

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“This is always a very interesting question. Tough question again as to who would you want to retain. Virat Kohli will be one you will retain. Can you retain Faf for three years? That is a big question. Do you want to retain Faf for three years? Not sure,” Chopra said in a video released on his YouTube channel.

“If I get a chance I will retain Cameron Green. I will retain Mohammed Siraj because I won't get too many Indian fast bowlers in the auction if I let him go as part of the retention,” the 46-year-old elaborated.

I would release Glenn Maxwell: Chopra

Chopra stated that RCB should try to retain Rajat Patidar if they get him at a cheap price. However, he wouldn’t be interested in retaining Glenn Maxwell for the next season. The Australia international played 10 matches in IPL 2025 and scored only 52 runs. He was even dropped from the playing XI at one stage and keeping that in mind, Chopra wants RCB to part ways with Maxwell. However, he has no doubt about Maxwell’s ability in the shortest format.

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“Rajat Patidar maybe, if he can be retained slightly cheap, but that's about it. Too many names aren't there. I will release Maxi. I will say it's enough, that you are a very good player, you play very well, but it's okay. I want to look somewhere else. So I might leave Maxi,” he said.