IPL 2019: Full list of retained players by Kings XI Punjab and their salary

In the last few weeks, there has been a lot of interest around the players who have been released from their squads ahead of the 2019 season of the Indian Premier League. While a few big-name players have been dropped by the franchises, a few other unexpected cricketers have found their place on the retained players' lists.

All this suggests that we could be looking at some very different team combinations once the 2019 season of the IPL rolls around. There are so many high-profile players available in the auction, that there will likely be a mad scramble for their signature next month.

However, very little attention has been focused on the players who have been retained. How each squad currently looks ahead of the auction next month will play a key role in the way the bidding shapes up.

Let us take a look at the players who the Kings XI Punjab have decided to keep as part of their squad for next year's season as they seek to turn their fortunes around. While some players have been dropped, many veterans of the squad remain and will continue to form part of the core group.

Below is the full list of players who have been retained by the Kings XI Punjab as well as their salary:

KL Rahul - ₹11 crore (US$1.5 million)

Ravichandran Ashwin - ₹7.6 crore (US$1.1 million)

Andrew Tye - ₹7.2 crore (US$1.0 million)

Karun Nair - ₹5.6 crore (US$779,218)

Mujeeb Ur Rahman - ₹4 crore (US$556,584)

Ankit Rajpoot - ₹3 crore (US$417,438)

David Miller - ₹3 crore (US$417,438)

Chris Gayle - ₹2 crore (US$278,292)

Mayank Agarwal - ₹1 crore (US$139,146)

Writer's opinion

The Kings XI Punjab have retained a talented squad of players and seem to be banking on experience for the next season of the IPL. As was expected, the franchise retained the big-hitting Chris Gayle, but they surprised many people by retaining David Miller.

Miller was barely used by the franchise during the previous IPL season, and many fans though that this was an indication that they would be dropping him this year. However, his recent performances for South Africa have highlighted just how talented he is, and that might have renewed the team's faith in him.

Aside from Miller and Gayle, the other retained players were the usual suspects; Rahul, Tye and Ashwin were no-brainer picks.