IPL 2018 Retentions: Hits and Misses

Miss - Axar Patel (Kings XI Punjab)

Axar has been good for Punjab but worth 12.5 crores?

Axar Patel was Kings XI Punjab's stunning choice as the only player to be retained. That this came from a franchise which boasted of Hashim Amla, Glenn Maxwell and Sandeep Sharma was a total surprise. Axar Patel was undoubtedly a valuable player for Punjab in the previous few seasons but it cost Punjab 12.5 crores to retain the spinner.

Although only 6.5 of it goes into Axar Patel's purse, Punjab are now left with 12.5 crores less than 80 crores when they go into the auctions. Given that they could have retained Hashim Amla, who was terrific for them last season, this was a poor, poor decision.