“Don’t regret releasing Shubman Gill” – KKR CEO Venky Mysore opens up on the franchise being forced to release star players before IPL 2022 Mega Auction

Shubman Gill, the 23-year-old Indian batsman, is currently considered one of the best in international cricket. Gill has delivered incredible performances for India and continues to wreak havoc for Gujarat Titans in the ongoing 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Previously, Gill played for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) but was released by the team at the 2022 mega auction. Other former KKR players, including Kuldeep Yadav, Piyush Chawla, and Ajinkya Rahane, are also performing well for their respective franchises.

According to Venky Mysore, CEO and managing director of Kolkata Knight Riders and Knight Riders Group, the franchise is not regretful about releasing players like Gill. He attributed their departures to the IPL’s limited player retention rules.

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“There is actually happiness when we see some of the players we have developed go to other franchises and do well, Shubman Gill is an example, the limitation as you know, the rules the IPL and BCCI make. In 2022 auction, we were allowed to keep only four players. There’s always a debate. There is always eight or nine whom we would like to keep, you had to select four out of those,” Mysore told the media during a Golf event in Kolkata.

“It’s never a regret, and the decisions were made based on the set of information that was available at that point. We believe those were the right decisions we made, but it’s always tough to lose some players,” Mysore further added.

Shubman Gill’s time with Kolkata Knight Riders now appears to be behind him, and he played a significant role in Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2022 championship victory. He has continued his excellent form in the current T20 season, scoring 333 runs in eight matches. With his performances, he will be aiming to win the IPL 2023 Orange Cap and lead Gujarat to another title this year.

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Tasirul Momin: