KL Rahul, who is the top scorer of IPL 2021 so far, may not feature for the Punjab Kings next year and is likely to be up for grabs in the auction, Cricbuzz has learnt. It is also understood that he has been approached by a few franchises that have shown interest in getting him.

With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet to announce the retention policy for the next season – when there will be a mega-auction – there is still some ambiguity on the number of retentions and Right To Match (RTM) cards available for a franchise.

A franchise has the right to use the RTM cards, when made available for the auction, for its current players and it is understood that discussions are taking place behind the scenes so that Rahul’s parting with the Kings is an amicable one. Rahul, now in the Indian bubble for the T20 World Cup, could not be reached for a comment while a Punjab Kings official has categorically denied having deliberations on the topic.

More players may join Indian team to support in training

Meanwhile, Cricbuzz understands that the selectors are thinking of having Harshal Patel, Venkatesh Iyer and Shivam Mavi to support the training of the Indian team. A couple of them, if not all three, could be asked to stay back in Dubai, where the Indian players are in a quarantine now. The instructions will be relayed after Monday’s Eliminator so that the player(s) will not exit the bubble and instead transfer from one bubble to another.

As for the change to the World Cup squad, the BCCI has time till October 16. It has been confirmed to Cricbuzz that the sides can change seven days prior to the start of the stage they play in. As the Super 12 stage starts on October 23, for which India has had direct qualification, the BCCI can make changes till October 16. October 10 was the deadline for the teams playing in the first round, which starts on October 17. As previously reported, the fate of Hardik Pandya too hangs in the balance, with the likes of Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar serving as alternatives if Hardik isn’t fit to bowl.