IPL: Five players whom the franchises might never release

The auction for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to take place in Kolkata on 19 December. However, before the auctions, the teams can trade players till 14 November.

Until now, there has been just one trade, where Delhi Capitals exchanged Sherfane Rutherford for leggie Mayank Markande, with Mumbai Indians.

Like every year, it is going to be an exciting auction as the franchises will run after some big names of world cricket and eventually all teams except the one who has the highest bid will have to settle for their back-up option.

There are high chances that some of the IPL veterans like Robin Uthappa will be available in the auction this year, along with players like Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell.

But there are certain key players who might not ever see the hammer going against their name, and end their career in their existing franchise itself. Here is a look at five such players who bring so much value to their team, that the team might never leave them. However, things like injuries and conflicts might play their part as exceptions to this deal between the player and the team.

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#5. Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan joined Delhi Capitals last year

Shikhar Dhawan, over the years, has played for more than two teams. Until 2018, Dhawan played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, some differences between him and the team meant that Dhawan parted ways with the Sunrisers and joined his home team, Delhi Capitals.

After a pretty good season with the Capitals, Dhawan is certainly going to there for at least another 2-3 years.

Also, considering that he is already 34-years old, there is a big possibility that he might play a maximum of three to four seasons of IPL from here. And the form he carries, the Capitals might be keen on keeping the dynamic left-handed Indian opener with them till he decides to end his IPL career.

If this happens, Shikhar will remain away from the hammer until the very end of his IPL career. Not to mention that even he might be very keen on hanging the boots while he is playing for his home team.

Markande has moved to Delhi in a trade deal.

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#4. Rishabh Pant

Pant is a talent worth nurturing for the capitals.

The young and hard-hitting wicket-keeper batsman, Rishabh Pant, has been a consistent contributor with the bat for the Delhi Capitals team in the last three seasons. Breaching the 300-runs mark on each occasion, the IPL performance is a primary reason behind him being a part of the Indian team across formats today.

He is a utility player who has taken the Capitals out of difficult situations on most occasions. At 22, Rishabh is pure talent and an absolute asset for the Capitals. He is someone the Capitals would like to take good care of. He is the present and the future of the Delhi side.

If he consistently performs the way he has done so far, he might remain with the Capitals till the very end of his career, which is far from over. Pant could even be the next skipper of the Delhi Capitals side. He has at least another decade of cricket left in him though and things change dramatically in the world of sports.

Delhi reached the playoffs last season.

#3. Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami is a top-notch pacer, who can run through a batting line-up on a given day

Mohammed Shami was bought by the Kings XI Punjab in the auction leading to the 2019 IPL. He had 19 scalps in the 14 matches that he played for the side. However, since the end of the IPL, Shami has been in some serious form.

This form is surely going to play a part in forcing the KXIP think-tank to retain this Indian pacer. What's more, is the way Shami has evolved in the last 12 months, he seems to be a different player altogether.

His evolution has made him a lethal pacer and the KXIP side need such a player. If Punjab decides to retain him this year, there is a good possibility that Shami will be in Punjab for at least three more years, looking at his current form.

But, with all points considered, there is one problem that does not fall in Shami's favour. He is an injury-prone pacer. Injury could make for a reason why KXIP might release Shami sometime in the later years.

#2. Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik might end his IPL career in the team he plays for today

Dinesh Karthik is a player who has played for more than five IPL franchises. He has been around in this league right since the start of IPL. After playing for Delhi Capitals (when it was Delhi Daredevils), Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab, Gujarat Lions and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first 10 seasons of the IPL, Karthik was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL11.

Now, he has been the captain of the KKR side for two seasons, and it is almost certain that he is going to be in the same dugout for the upcoming season too.

The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman will be 34 years old when he plays the next IPL. There is a strong possibility that the KKR skipper retires in 2-3 years time. If that is the case, he could well be seen hanging his boots in the KKR camp itself.

He has led them well, and his ability to bat as a floater in the middle order gives the team a sense of assurance.

#1. Jasprit Bumrah

One of the top performers for the Mumbai Indians, Jasprit Bumrah is an inseparable factor of the side

Jasprit Bumrah today stands amongst the most prolific names in the list of pacers in the world. The way Bumrah has grown over the years to become a world-class bowler, Mumbai Indians would be more than keen on keeping this talent in blue and gold forever.

It is Mumbai Indians who introduced the world to Bumrah. Over the years, he has become an integral part of the MI family. So, Bumrah too would be keen to keep this bond intact and keep performing for the team who recognised his talent and launched him at the highest level.

Three seasons into the IPL and Bumrah was into the Indian cricket team. The level where he has reached since then has been phenomenal. He is easily among the best bowlers in the world across formats.

He is just 25 years old and has at least another half a dozen seasons of IPL ahead of him. In such a scenario, it is hard to predict if he will stay with MI or move to another team. But for the better part of the remaining IPL career, he will surely be seen in the Mumbai blue and gold. He is an absolute asset for the Mumbai Indians, and MI know how to treat assets.