Rajasthan’s victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) can perhaps be included in a man-management lesson in a top business school. But, once the hangover — of a win that could not have been sweeter — dies down, Shane Warne, the team’s captain-cum-coach, and the team’s owners can be rest assured there’ll be more off-the-field work to do than the effort the put in on it during the 44-day tournament.

The Royals are sure to face a tough challenge to ensure that they manage to retain the men who won them this title for next season. In days where HR policies are about hiring the best in business at any cost, players such Swapnil Asnodkar, Niraj Patel and Dinesh Salunkhe — initially bought for far lesser fees — are sure to get many tempting offers from other franchises.

In fact, it was on the evening after Royals won the final in Navi Mumbai that Warne expressed his fears regarding this issue. “It’ll be tough to retain these players and I’m already fearing that,” he said. “They have done very well so there’s no doubt they’ll be in great demand.”

Here’s what can be expected when the transfer window opens next year:

•Except for the under-19 cricketers, where BCCI laid down stringent rules and allowed only one-year contracts, the rest of the players either bought in auction or hired from catchment areas have signed three-year contracts with team owners. But the players have been given the choice of expressing their interest in joining any other team if there is an offer and the current owners agree to the request.

... contd.