Table of Contents
With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Mega Auction approaching, teams are meticulously planning their retention picks for the 18th edition of the tournament. The highly anticipated event is likely to be held between December and February. All franchises are seeking to retain their top players ahead of the mega pool availability asked by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). However, the governing body hasn’t made any official announcement regarding the player retention options and rules.
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction is likely to follow a format similar to the 2022 auctions as teams focused on securing the best deals and players for their squads. All franchises will face challenging decisions during the retention process and their decision might be heavily dependent on the players’ performances in the previous edition. Teams should be careful while making their selection given that they are allowed to retain 3-4 players for the upcoming season, according to the 2022 Mega Auction rules. Notably, the rest of the players will need to be purchased at the Mega Auction. Additionally, the retention process is more challenging than it appears, as securing the services of top players can impact the overall team budget.
In this article, we look at the potential retention lists for each team, focusing on players they are expected to keep for the upcoming season.
Probable retention list for IPL 2025
Amid ongoing rumours, Rishabh Pant is likely to leave Delhi Capitals (DC) for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and KL Rahul could be traded to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), given Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) poor outing in the previous edition. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Rohit Sharma might move from Mumbai Indians (MI) to Gujarat Titans (GT) or DC.
Here is the list of players expected to be retained by each team for the IPL 2025 season:
Teams | Probable Retention List |
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni |
Mumbai Indians (MI) | Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Virat Kohli, Will Jacks, Mohammed Siraj, Rajat Patidar |
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Abhishek Sharma, T Natarajan, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen |
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Shreyas Iyer, Varun Chakaravarthy |
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Mayank Yadav |
Gujarat Titans (GT) | Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharshan, Mohammed Shami |
Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag |
Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Arshdeep Singh, Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma |
Delhi Capitals (DC) | Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jake Fraser-McGurk |
Retained Players List: Teamwise
Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced a heartbreaking end to their campaign in the previous edition after suffering a defeat in a crucial group stage match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). They did not make it to the playoffs and failed to defend their title. Notably, the match against RCB may have been MS Dhoni’s final appearance in the IPL. However, Dhoni, who led CSK to five IPL titles, hasn’t announced his retirement yet. but his future with the team will likely be clarified through the retained player list for IPL 2025. The most likely retention candidates include captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, and potentially Shoni. If Dhoni retires, they may opt to retain pacer Matheesha Pathirana.
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians (MI) had a disappointing campaign in 2024 as they finished bottom of the points table with just four wins and 10 defeats. They brought back Hardik Pandya for the IPL 2024 in a high-profile trade and appointed him as the captain. The ace all-rounder failed to live up to the expectations while leading the team as MI couldn’t win the title for the sixth time.
MI faces a significant challenge in deciding which players to retain for IPL 2025. Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav are the potential player choices for Mumbai.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Ahead of the Mega Auction, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are expected to retain key players to bolster their squad for the IPL 2025. The likely retained players include Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Rajat Patidar, and Will Jacks, all of whom have delivered strong performances for the team. In the previous season, RCB struggled in the initial stage but staged a stunning comeback and made it to the playoffs. However, their hopes to win an IPL title were dashed after being eliminated in the knockout stage.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) showcased some record-breaking performances in the IPL 2024 under the leadership of Pat Cummins. However, they fell short of winning the title after suffering an eight-wicket defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final. Ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, they are likely to retain Abhishek Sharma, T Natarajan, Travis Head, and Heinrich Klaasen, all of whom have delivered strong performances for the team. The Hyderabad-based franchise is likely to prioritize retaining Abhishek for his versatility as both a batter and bowler, Natarajan for his effective yorkers, and Head and Klaasen for their explosive batting.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) enjoyed a fruitful campaign in IPL 2024, winning their third title after defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. They now face the difficult task of retaining players before the Mega Auction as they look to maintain their successful team balance. KKR is expected to retain their captain Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Varun Chakravarthy for the IPL 2025.
Lucknow Super Giants
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who made their IPL debut in 2022, made it to the playoffs in their first two seasons. Regrettably, they had a dismal campaign, finishing in 7th place in their third edition. As they prepare for their first Mega Auction, the Lucknow-based franchise faces a critical opportunity to reshape their squad for the upcoming season. LSG will focus on retaining several key players before the auction. KL Rahul, who has been the team’s captain for the last three seasons, is likely to leave the team. They might focus on retaining Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, and Mayank Yadav.
Gujarat Titans
Gujarat Titans (GT) also made their IPL debut in the 2022 season alongside Lucknow Super Giants. They have showcased exceptional performances under the leadership of Hardik Pandya in the first two seasons, winning the title in 2022 and ending as runners-up in the following season. However, they faced significant setbacks in the third season, winning only five games in the group stage and thus finished eighth in the points table.
In order to rectify past mistakes, the Titans are focusing on retaining key players and building a strong squad for the Mega Auction 2025. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan’s impressive performances, promise a formidable top order. They will also look to retain Mohammad Shami and Rashid Khan to offer a potent bowling combination.
Rajasthan Royals
With a roster of standout players, retaining key talent will be tough for Rajasthan Royals (RR) as well. Sanju Samson will remain the captain, and Jos Buttler, known for his explosive batting, will also find a place in the retained list. Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has already made his mark in the league, and Riyan Parag with brilliant all-round abilities might also earn a place on the list.
Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings (PBKS) are among the less successful teams in the history of the tournament. PBKS, who finished ninth on the points table in 2024 IPL, might release their entire squad into the auction pool. According to reports, they might consider retaining three players– Arshdeep Singh, Shashank Singh, and Ashutosh Sharma. Arshdeep’s precise yorkers, Shashank’s explosive batting, and Ashutosh’s spin bowling might create a solid foundation as they head for next season.
Delhi Capitals
Despite having a strong roster, they struggled in the previous season and finished sixth in the points table with seven wins and as many defeats. They might look to retain Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and emerging talent Jake Fraser-McGurk for the upcoming edition of the IPL.
Reference Article:
IPL 2025 Retained Players List (uccricket.live)