IPL 2018: 5 Most expensive player retentions

4. Steve Smith – RR: Rs. 12 Crore

Australian skipper Steve Smith was again a great choice to retain by the returning franchise Rajasthan Royals. His stakes have increased since his last stint with Rising Pune Supergiant when he was paid only Rs. 5.5 Crore. This time around he has been retained by paying a king-sized amount of Rs. 12 Crore. He should be the most profitable cricketer in the list of retained players this year. He should also be the most obvious skipper of the team as the Royals would look to build around him now.

Smith has been the part of the IPL since 2012 and has seldom played the whole season given his national commitments. But his exploits in the league have been excellent with 1703 runs in just 69 matches at a decent average of 37.02 and a strike rate of 131. He is not the most flamboyant person when it comes to clobbering the ball but makes sure he scores his runs at a rapid pace. His captaincy too has been brilliant as he led the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant.