IPL 2021 players retention: MI release Lasith Malinga, RR release Steve Smith. Check full list

MI decided to retain the core of the team, including skipper Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock, star pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, and all-rounders Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya. 

Defending champions Mumbai Indians on Wednesday released Sri Lankan pacer and Indian Premier League’s highest wicket-taker Lasith Malinga ahead of the upcoming season.

Malinga, who has played a staggering 122 IPL matches, has 170 wickets to his credit, the highest in the cash-rich league, with the best bowling figures of 5-13.

Mumbai retain core

MI decided to retain the core of the team, including skipper Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock, star pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, and all-rounders Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya. 

As per the statement, the five-time champions now have 18 players in their squad, with seven spots open which can be filled in the mini-auction.

RR release Smith 

Meanwhile, Sanju Samson replaced Steven Smith as Rajasthan Royals captain after the Australian batsman was released. Chennai Super Kings retained Suresh Raina.
“As the IPL has grown, the captaincy has become a year-round task, and as such strong local Indian leadership has become increasingly important,” said RR owner Manoj Badale in a statement.

“Sanju made his debut as a Royal, and it has been a joy to watch his development over the last 8 years. He is the ideal person to lead the Royals into the 2021 season,” he added.

List of players released

Mumbai Indians 
. Lasith Malinga
. Mitch McClenaghan
. James Pattinson
. Nathan Coulter-Nile
. Sherfane Rutherford
. Prince Balwant Rai
. Digvijay Deshmukh

Chennai Super Kings
. Harbhajan Singh
. Kedar Jadhav
. Piyush Chawla
. Shane Watson
. Murali Vijay
. Monu Kumar Singh 

Kolkata Knight Riders
. Tom Banton
. Chris Green
. Siddhesh Lad
. Nikhil Naik
. M Siddharth
. Harry Gurney

Kings XI Punjab
. Glenn Maxwell
. Karun Nair
. Hardus Viljoen
. Jagadeesha Suchith
. Mujeeb ur Rahman
. Sheldon Cottrell
. Jimmy Neesham
. Krishnappa Gowtham
. Tajinder Singh

RCB
. Chris Morris
. Aaron Finch
. Moeen Ali
. Isuru Udana
. Dale Steyn
. Shivam Dube
. Umesh Yadav
. Pawan Negi
. Gurkeerat Mann
. Parthiv Patel 

Delhi Capitals 
. Mohit Sharma
. Tushar Deshpande
. Keemo Paul
. Sandeep Lamichhane
. Alex Carey
. Jason Roy

Rajasthan Royals
. Steven Smith
. Ankit Rajpoot
. Oshane Thomas
. Akash Singh
. Varun Aaron
. Tom Curran
. Anirudha Joshi
. Shashank Singh

Sunrisers  Hyderabad 
. Billy Stanlake
. Fabian Allen
. Sanjay Yadav
. B Sandeep
. Y Prithvi Raj

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