IPL 2025 Retention Update So Far: Who’s Staying, Who’s Going, and Why?

With the 2025 IPL season approaching, teams are gearing up to finalize their retentions, setting the stage for an exciting tournament. Here’s a detailed look at the potential retentions, releases, and strategic choices each team has made so far.

1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

• MS Dhoni’s Participation Confirmed- The face of CSK, MS Dhoni, has once again confirmed his participation, much to the delight of fans. His leadership and cricketing acumen remain invaluable, particularly with the younger squad members.

MS Dhoni is retained by CSK!✅#IPL2025 #IPLRetention pic.twitter.com/30Fs9nhsah

— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) October 27, 2024

• Likely Retained Players- CSK is expected to retain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, and MS Dhoni.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad: Gaikwad has been a reliable opener and has proven his leadership capability to anchor innings or go on the offensive, making him an easy choice for retention.
• Ravindra Jadeja: Known for his versatility with both bat and ball, Jadeja’s retention is crucial, especially for his finishing ability and agility in the field.
• Matheesha Pathirana: With his sling action, Pathirana adds a unique dimension to CSK’s bowling attack, offering death-over effectiveness. CSK will likely bank on his growth and potential as a key bowler.

2. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

• Certain Retention—Virat Kohli is RCB’s only confirmed retention so far. His long association with the team and consistent performance make him indispensable.
• Potential Retentions- Mohammed Siraj and Rajat Patidar are strong candidates for retention, but the final decision remains pending.
• Mohammed Siraj: Siraj has emerged as RCB’s leading pacer, known for his pace and accuracy, making him a likely choice for retention.
• Rajat Patidar: Patidar’s ability to play crucial innings has impressed, especially given his contributions in pressure situations.
• Glenn Maxwell Likely Not Retained- Despite his explosive batting, Maxwell’s inconsistent form and injury concerns may lead RCB to release him and instead invest in young or more dependable players.

3. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

• Possible Release of KL Rahul- LSG is considering releasing KL Rahul due to his fluctuating form and hefty salary, with indications pointing to new leadership.

Lucknow Supergiants are likely to release KL Rahul ahead of the #IPL2025 Mega auction #LSG

Read more👉 https://t.co/S4kHUIaBTC pic.twitter.com/QPQiu3JMBt

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 23, 2024

• Likely Retentions and New Captain- Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, and Mayank Yadav are likely retentions.
• Nicholas Pooran– A powerful batsman, Pooran is also expected to take on the captaincy role, adding leadership stability.
• Ravi Bishnoi– As a consistent spinner, Bishnoi brings variety and effectiveness to the bowling attack.
• Mayank Yadav– Known for his control and pace, Yadav could be a reliable asset for the squad.
• Marcus Stoinis Likely Released- Stoinis’s performance has not been consistent, and LSG may look to free up funds by not retaining him.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

• Retention Strategy- KKR’s primary retention choices focus on Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, and Harshit Rana.
• Andre Russell– Russell’s power-hitting and bowling provide a balance KKR values.
• Sunil Narine– Known for his economical bowling, Narine’s retention is a straightforward choice.
• Rinku Singh and Harshit Rana– Rinku has shown promise with the bat, while Harshit has potential as a developing pace bowler.
• Shreyas Iyer’s Retention in Doubt- Iyere may be retained as a fourth option, but it remains uncertain.

🚨📰| Kolkata Knight Riders are ready to give the 1st retention slot to Shreyas Iyer but Shreyas Iyer is seriously considering leaving KKR because of many reasons like another rival team has made him a big offer.

– ESPNcricinfo pic.twitter.com/qiqwokd4JP

— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) October 28, 2024

5. Rajasthan Royals (RR)

• Core Retentions Almost Certain- Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Riyan Parag are expected to be retained by RR.
• Sanju Samson: As captain and a dependable batter, Samson is central to the team.
• Yashasvi Jaiswal: Jaiswal’s rising form makes him an invaluable asset for RR.
• Riyan Parag: Parag brings youth and all-round potential, which Rajasthan values for future building.
• Jos Buttler Likely to Be Released- With his substantial salary, Buttler might be released with an option for RR to use a Right-to-Match (RTM) card.
• Sandeep Sharma’s Retention Doubtful- While a skilled bowler, Sharma’s retention is uncertain due to competition for a limited number of retention spots.

6. Mumbai Indians (MI)

• Retentions and Leadership Update- MI’s likely retentions include Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Nehal Wadhera.

Retention of Mumbai Indians according to Harsha Bhogle

Suryakumar Yadav
Hardik Pandya
Rohit Sharma
Jasprit Bumrah
Tilak Varma
Anshul Kamboj (Uncapped) pic.twitter.com/LbroTWkweF

— Mumbai Indians FC (@MIPaltanFamily) October 26, 2024

• Suryakumar Yadav– Known for his unorthodox yet effective batting, Surya is set to take on the captaincy role.
• Hardik Pandya– A dynamic all-rounder, Pandya adds balance with both bat and ball.
• Jasprit Bumrah– Bumrah remains a top bowler known for his pace and accuracy.
• Ishan Kishan Likely Not Retained—Kishan’s form has fluctuated, and MI may choose not to retain him, particularly given the high salary cap required.

7. Gujarat Titans (GT)

• Expected Retentions- GT will likely retain Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan as key players.
• Shubman Gill: With his reliable top-order batting, Gill has become a central figure for GT.
• Rashid Khan: Known for his world-class spin, Rashid’s retention is a no-brainer.
• Additional Retentions- Mohammad Shami might be retained for his experience, and Rahul Tewatia could be kept as an uncapped player due to his all-round skills.

8. Punjab Kings (PBKS)

• Retention Strategy- PBKS may retain Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma as uncapped players to build a solid, cost-effective core.
• Highest Purse for Auctions- With the largest purse at ₹112 crores, PBKS could strategically use their funds, possibly retaining Arshdeep Singh at a high price or rebuying him using the RTM.

9. Delhi Capitals (DC)

• Rishabh Pant’s Retention Doubtful—Pant’s retention is uncertain because of his recent ‘X’ posts, in which he asked his followers whether he should go to auction or not, and DC is evaluating other options.

If go to the auction. will I be sold or not and for how much ??

— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) October 11, 2024

• Likely Retained Players- Axar Patel, Jason Holder, and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to be retained.
• Axar Patel: Patel’s all-round abilities make him a reliable option.
• Kuldeep Yadav: Known for his spin prowess, Kuldeep has proven valuable in the bowling attack.

10. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

• Confirmed Retentions- Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Abhishek Sharma are confirmed retentions.
• Heinrich Klaasen (23 Cr): As a top-order batsman, Klaasen adds stability and power.
• Pat Cummins (18 Cr): Known for his pace and leadership qualities, Cummins strengthens SRH’s bowling attack.
• Abhishek Sharma (14 Cr): Abhishek’s retention is significant as he brings all-round skills.
• Additional Retentions Under Consideration- SRH is considering Travis Head and Nitish Reddy, but final decisions are yet to be made.

Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Abhishek Sharma will remain with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for IPL 2025. Additionally, Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy are also expected to be retained by the franchise, according to reports from ESPNcricinfo! pic.twitter.com/WJlCFDAiXn

— SunRisers OrangeArmy Official (@srhfansofficial) October 16, 2024

The IPL 2025 retention updates reflect each team’s unique approach, balancing experienced players with rising stars. Teams are carefully evaluating performances, costs, and squad dynamics to set up a successful campaign. With several top players potentially released, the auction pool may see intense competition, paving the way for an exciting season ahead!

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