IPL Player Retention: LSG could pay over Rs 20 crore to retain Nicholas Pooran | Cricket News

Lucknow Super Giants’ Nicholas Pooran. (Photo by Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Nicholas Pooran could become one of the highest paid retained players in the history of the IPL, TOI has learnt. Lucknow Super Giants and Pooran have reached an agreement where the hard-hitting Trinidadian could end up getting over Rs 20 crore from the franchise, according to IPL sources.
“There is a buzz in IPL circles that LSG have agreed to pay Pooran over Rs 20 crore to retain him ahead of the mega auction. The agreement between the two parties was reached in two minutes after consultation with mentor Zaheer Khan and coach Justin Langer,” IPL sources said.

However, this agreement is no indication of captaincy. The franchise will wait for the auction to see what resources they have. LSG are keen on going all out for Rishabh Pant if DC don’t retain him, it is learnt.
TOI had reported on October 23 that Pooran was going to be LSG’s top retention followed by Mayank Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi. LSG are expected to spend around Rs 50 crore on the retentions.

“There is a chance that Lucknow will spend Rs 40 crore on retaining overseas and capped players like Pooran, Mayank and Bishnoi. Uncapped players like Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan will be paid as per understanding with the players and the franchise,” sources said.
In the mini IPL auction last year, Mitchell Starc became the most expensive player when KKR paid Rs 24.75 crore. However, no player has been ever retained for an amount of Rs 20 crore.