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Xtra Time Web Desk:  Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has stirred the pot regarding rumors of Rohit Sharma potentially joining Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. On his YouTube channel, de Villiers claimed that such a move would be unprecedented in the tournament's history, stating it would "grab headlines left, right, and center."

The speculation follows Rohit's recent removal as captain of Mumbai Indians (MI), a role that has now been handed to Hardik Pandya. Although Rohit remained silent when the decision was made, an audio clip discussing the franchise's changes went viral during the 2024 season.

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During a live Q&A session, de Villiers expressed skepticism about Rohit's departure from MI, citing his deep-rooted loyalty to the franchise. "I almost laughed at the Rohit comment. If he moves from MI to RCB, wow! That would be bigger than Hardik Pandya's move back to Mumbai from Gujarat Titans," he remarked. However, he emphasized the unlikelihood of MI letting Rohit go, giving it "zero or 0.1 percent chance."

De Villiers also addressed the leadership situation at RCB, indicating that he believes Faf du Plessis, despite turning 40, will continue as captain. "Age is just a number. He’s been exceptional, and I think Virat will back him with all his experience," he noted.

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As the franchises prepare for IPL 2024, they can retain up to six players, but reports indicate that retaining them will come at a significant cost. Expected retention fees for capped players are set at 18, 14, 11, 18, and 14 crores, with uncapped players costing around 4 crores each.