New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday announced its retention list ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. One of the biggest surprise of the retention phase was the release of their captain Faf du Plessis.
The United Spirits-owned franchise retained three players in Virat Kohli (INR 21 crore), Rajat Patidar (INR 11 crore) and Yash Dayal (INR 5 crore). Du Plessis, who was bought in the IPL 2022 auction, was appointed to lead the team after Kohli relinquished the captaincy role after the conclusion of IPL 2021.
During his three-year stint with RCB, Faf scored 1636 runs in 45 matches at an average of 38.04 and a strike rate of 146.99 with the help of 15 half-centuries. He led RCB in 42 matches, having an even win-loss ratio with 21 victories and as many defeats in the last three seasons (2022-2024), wherein RCB made two appearances in the playoffs, but couldn’t qualify for the final.
In a video released by the official YouTube channel of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Director of Cricket Mo Bobat revealed that Faf’s age was the factor that the team management looked upon in the long-term run.
“The decision to not retain Faf is a tricky one because I have nothing but admiration for him as a bloke, as a cricketer, as a leader, and as a captain. Again, I wouldn’t underestimate how big a role he’s played for RCB in the last few years and how much, if he isn’t with us, we’re going to be missing him,” Bobat said in a video
“So that was a tough decision for us. Obviously, the way that these retention bands and purse are set out, it does make it difficult to get everything you want. Faf, I’m sure, will admit himself, is at the latter part of his career now. And obviously for Andy and I, we have to think really strongly around RCB’s leadership moving forward,” he added.
“He is a guy that we spent a lot of time discussing” – Andy Flower on Faf du Plessis
RCB saw a remarkable turnaround in the previous season to qualify for the playoffs. The team lost six matches in the first phase, but a whirlwind six-match winning streak helped them to secure the last spot in the knockout stage, particularly their 27-run defeat against CSK.
“Last year, Faf’s captaincy and leadership — in what was a really tough season, particularly in the first half — was sensational. He was very much a part of leading the revival that took us into the finals… He is a guy that we spent a lot of time discussing. Faf is 40 now and still playing very good cricket. He’s just led his CPL side to victory very recently in the Caribbean and I’m not surprised by that,” Flower said.
There are reports that Virat Kohli would again assume the captaincy role from next season onwards after Faf’s departure.
