Mumbai: Cricketers the world over eye an IPL contract as no other franchise-based tournament is as lucrative as this T20 league.
Some overseas cricketers have even been accused of ignoring national duties to focus on IPL.
In such a backdrop, Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill’s decision to take a pay cut has come as a pleasant surprise. More so because it’s for the team’s cause.
Gill, considered by many pundits as a future India captain, is the second player to be retained by the IPL franchise ahead of the October 31 deadline.
The Team India batter, who led Titans for the first time in 2024, and franchise officials are keen to retain the core group of players for IPL 2025.
“Gill has decided to take a pay cut to ensure that the core players are retained and build a stronger team,” PTI quoted an IPL source as saying.
Gill apart, star Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, young batter Sai Sudharsan, uncapped players Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan are the other players Gujarat Titans will retain from their previous squad.
Ahmedabad-based Gujarat Titans, winner of the IPL title in their debut season in 2022, also have the option of retaining another squad member via the right to match (RTM) card at next month’s mega auction.
As per IPL retention guidelines released recently, a team will lose Rs 18 crore from the increased purse of Rs 120 crore for the first player retained, Rs 14 crore for the second and Rs 11 for the third retention. For uncapped players, a team will have to shell out Rs 4 crore each.
A team which retains five capped players will lose Rs 75 crore from the auction pot.
