Two IPL star players put condition on franchise: contract extension only for 40 crore rupees; one demands captaincy

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made an important decision ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction. The board has granted all franchises an additional two-day extension to submit the lists of players they intend to retain (Retention List).

Teams can now report the names of players they are retaining or releasing until November 17. Previously, this deadline was set for November 15. According to a report published by Cricbuzz on Monday (November 2), the BCCI notified the franchises about the extension.

The reason cited for this change is the fifth and final match of the series between India and New Zealand, which will take place on November 15 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Considering this, franchises have been given extra time to complete the player retention process.

Nevertheless, the dates and venue for the IPL mini-auction remain unchanged. The auction will take place on December 16 in Goa. Notably, a match between India and Sri Lanka is also scheduled for the day of the auction, which will be the second game of the series at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Despite this, the BCCI has not given any indication of a change to the auction schedule.

The latest communication from the BCCI also details the entire schedule leading up to the mini-auction. The player registration process began on November 2. Franchises must complete the player retention and release process by November 17. After that, the player registration window will close on November 23.

All teams must submit the list of players selected for the auction by December 1. The final player registration list, along with the squad, will be published on December 3, after which the mini-auction will take place in Goa on December 16.

Following a disappointing performance by Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2025, where the team led by Shreyas Iyer failed to make the playoffs, the management and its co-owner Preeti Jinta are preparing for major changes before the IPL 2027 mini-auction.

According to available information, to optimize the budget and form a new squad, Punjab Kings may release five players who have performed poorly.

One such player is Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, whom the club acquired for a substantial 11 crore. However, in 26 matches, he managed to score only 376 runs and take 3 wickets. Since the team has an excellent alternative in Ajmuttaullah Omarzai, Stoinis's departure is considered almost inevitable.

There is also consideration of releasing Nehal Wadhera, who joined the team for 4.20 crore. His performance in IPL 2026 was extremely poor: in 8 matches, he scored only 65 runs, and as a result of his poor form, he was dropped from the starting lineup. Now the club intends to release him before the auction.

Furthermore, New Zealand fast bowler Loki Ferguson might leave the team. Due to injuries and personal reasons, he played only in 7 matches over two seasons, despite having a relatively high efficiency rating, taking only 6 wickets. The fragment indicates that the franchise may get rid of him to save its expensive bowling budget.

Indian young batter Mushir Khan, bought by Punjab for 30 lakhs, got a chance to play in only one match over the last two seasons. Mushir himself seems intent on leaving the team to try and find a spot at the auction.

Australian fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis was acquired for a significant sum of 4.40 crore, but in IPL 2026, he only got one match, in which he took just one wicket. Considering the presence of strong foreign bowlers like Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett, Punjab may decide to release Dwarshuis.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who returned to international T20 cricket four years later, faced a difficult start in the first two matches against New Zealand. In these games, he conceded 99 runs and managed to take only one wicket. Against this backdrop of failure, despite brilliant performances in the IPL over two seasons, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel defended him. He advised Kumar to ignore external expectations and concentrate on his natural style of play.

Before the third T20 match between India and New Zealand, Morkel called Kumar's return a challenging task. He noted that it is natural for the player to be expected to perform highly after a four-year break from international T20. However, in his opinion, it is crucial to get out from under the pressure of these expectations.

Morkel expressed sympathy regarding Kumar's return, emphasizing that he had demonstrated exceptional play and excellent bowling in the IPL. He also mentioned that Kumar trained for a month before the selection, but international cricket presents a completely different challenge where even minor errors can lead to serious consequences. Due to a tight schedule, he had little time to prepare.

In the first two matches against New Zealand, Kumar conceded 49 and 50 runs respectively. His average efficiency stood at 12.37, making him the most expensive among Indian bowlers. During this period, he took only one wicket. The team expected better performance from Kumar, who is known for his ability to achieve swing and movement in the air. Nevertheless, regaining his previous form after a four-year hiatus and limited preparation proved to be a problem for him.

Morkel acknowledged that Kumar possesses both the necessary skills and experience, and therefore, he should be given time to regain his rhythm. He stated: 'His skill and experience, everything is there. But ultimately, we must respect the game of cricket and give him a chance to find his rhythm over a few matches.'

The contrast between the current difficulties and recent successes in the IPL is striking. Kumar played a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) two consecutive wins in the IPL. In the 2025 season, he took 17 wickets, and in 2026, 28, totaling 45 wickets. Following such influence in the IPL, he was expected to replicate this success for the Indian national team. However, in the first two matches against New Zealand, he struggled both in terms of restricting runs and taking wickets.

This is why Morkel advised against drawing hasty conclusions about his performance, urging him to play freely. The coach believes that despite having experience and skills, regaining rhythm after returning to international cricket can take some time. Morkel gave Kumar a clear message: do not rush to prove anything. According to him, the bowler should distance himself from external discussions and focus on his game. He added: 'Since he joined the team, my message has been not to chase anything. Just focus on your game.' This former fast bowler from South Africa continued: 'Yes, there will be expectations, but you will get better with every match and find your rhythm. So don't think about external things. Just focus on your game and be connected to it.'