Three teams retained the maximum possible five players ahead of IPL 7, with no surprises in the fact that the franchises that chose to do so were the three most successive sides of last season.
The Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals kept their core intact for IPL 7, retaining five players each ahead of the 5 pm IST Friday deadline.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore retained three players, but three of the absolute big guns, and most feared batsmen in international cricket.
Former champions went back into rebuilding mode, by choosing to keep only two players - Gautam Gambhir and Sunil Narine, while the Kings XI Punjab also went the same way with David Miller, the man who scored that unbelievable hundred against RCB in IPL 6 and somewhat of a surprise choice in Punjab youngster Manan Vohra.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad also decided to hold onto just two players - opener extraordinaire Shikhar Dhawan and fast bowling supremo Dale Steyn.
Kings XI, Sunrisers and KKR will have two right-to-match cards to play at the auction, if they do choose to bring a couple of their former players back into the side.
The Delhi Daredevils were the only club not to retain a single player, instead choosing to "rebuild" after a season which saw them finish last.
The Daredevils had the option of choosing the likes of Virender Sehwag, Morne Morkel, Kevin Pietersen and David Warner, to just name a few, but have decided to take their chances with the 12 February auction.
Retained players: Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh and Ambati Rayudu.
Total purse: Rs 60 crore. Spent: Rs 39 crore. Remaining: Rs 21 crore.
Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo.
Total purse: Rs 60 crore. Spent: Rs 39 crore. Remaining: Rs 21 crore.
Rajasthan Royals: Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Shane Watson, James Faulkner and Stuart Binny.
Total purse: Rs 60 crore. Spent: Rs 37.5 crore. Remaining: Rs 22.5 crore.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Shikhar Dhawan and Dale Steyn.
Total purse: Rs 60 crore. Spent Rs 22 crore. Remaining: Rs 38 crore.
Kings XI Punjab: David Miller, Manan Vohra.
Total purse: Rs 60 crore. Spent: Rs 16.5 crore. Remaining: Rs 43.5 crore.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers.
Total purse: Rs 60 crore. Spent Rs 29.5 crore. Remaining: Rs 30.5 crore.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir, Sunil Narine.
Total purse: Rs 60 crore. Spent Rs 22 crore. Remaining: Rs 38 crore.
Delhi Daredevils: No players retained.
Total purse remaining: Rs 60 crore.
