Scout
Illustration: AI-generatedFor sponsors today
- Top stars reportedly want Rs 40 crore to stay. Confirm who is retained before you tie creative, shoot dates or fees to one face.
- Retention lists are now due on 17 November. Update any contract clause or brief timeline that still says 15 November.
- A Hardik-Arshdeep swap is in talks, not done. MI and PBKS sponsors should wait for the official word before changing plans.
Top stars reportedly ask Rs 40 crore to stay
What happened
Cricbuzz reports that a few leading IPL players have told their teams they want Rs 40 crore to be retained, and at least one of these asks is linked to the captaincy. No names have been made public, and the figure sits well above the Rs 27 crore Rishabh Pant fetched at the 2025 auction. Yahoo Sports (The Sporting News, citing Cricbuzz) ↗
What it means for sponsors
A player who costs that much takes a large share of the purse, which can leave a thinner squad around the face a brand is paying for, and a weaker team on screen. If your deal leans on one star, ask the team who is confirmed after 17 November before you lock creative or shoot dates.
Retention deadline moves to 17 November
What happened
The BCCI told all ten teams on 2 November that retention and release lists are now due on 17 November, two days later than planned, because the old date clashed with India's final ODI in New Zealand. The Goa auction stays on 16 December, with player registration open until 23 November and the final auction list due on 3 December. Khel Now ↗
What it means for sponsors
Squads become clear two days later, so any clause tied to the retention list should name 17 November, not 15. The full calendar to the auction is now fixed, which gives brands firm dates to plan 2027 briefs, shortlists and budget sign-offs around.
Hardik trade talks turn to Punjab Kings
What happened
Reports since 3 November say Punjab Kings have joined the chase for Hardik Pandya, offering a package built around Arshdeep Singh and Vishnu Vinod. As of 6 November neither MI nor PBKS had confirmed anything, and a viral post announcing the move came from a look-alike account, not the team. Free Press Journal ↗
What it means for sponsors
If the swap goes through, MI loses its captain and PBKS its lead bowler, so both teams change their main faces at once. Sponsors of either side should wait for the official word and ask now how player-led content, appearances and shoot days would be reassigned to other names.
Inventory watch
- **IPL 2027:** associations open across all 10 teams, including the two in today's trade story, Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings. Each has its 2026 value mapped by TrueVal, so ask for a read before you commit. - **Films, next 30 days:** co-branding on *Suryaa* (20 Nov), *Yeh Prem Mol Liya* (27 Nov), *Fauzi* (3 Dec), *Eetha* and *Ranger* (both 4 Dec). - [Every open slot](https://justaboutsportz.com/opportunities)
Number of the day
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