As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction approaches, each of the ten franchises has unveiled their retained players. With strategic planning and financial prudence at play, teams have made their moves to keep key players while building up the rest of their squads with the auction just around the corner. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of each team’s retained players, the remaining purse, and some key takeaways.
Mumbai Indians (MI)
Players Retained: 5
- Jasprit Bumrah (INR 18 crore)
- Suryakumar Yadav (INR 16.35 crore)
- Hardik Pandya (INR 16.35 crore)
- Rohit Sharma (INR 16.30 crore)
- Tilak Varma (INR 8 crore)
Purse Remaining for Auction: INR 45 crore (out of INR 120 crore)
RTM Options: 1 (Uncapped player eligible)
Key Takeaways:
- MI have retained their core Indian players, with Hardik Pandya being handed the captaincy for IPL 2025, following Rohit Sharma’s era.
- Jasprit Bumrah is now MI’s highest-paid retention, a nod to his immense value as a bowler.
- The franchise has strategically maintained a balance between retaining marquee players while keeping enough funds for the auction.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Players Retained: 5
- Heinrich Klaasen (INR 23 crore)
- Pat Cummins (INR 18 crore)
- Abhishek Sharma (INR 14 crore)
- Travis Head (INR 14 crore)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy (INR 6 crore)
Purse Remaining for Auction: INR 45 crore (out of INR 120 crore)
RTM Options: 1 (Uncapped player eligible)
Key Takeaways:
- Heinrich Klaasen has become SRH’s most expensive retention, valued at INR 23 crore, marking a significant investment in his explosive batting.
- SRH have retained three overseas players, the highest among all teams, indicating their focus on international firepower.
- The absence of key Indian players like Washington Sundar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar raises questions about SRH’s domestic depth.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Players Retained: 5
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 18 crore)
- Ravindra Jadeja (INR 18 crore)
- Matheesha Pathirana (INR 13 crore)
- Shivam Dube (INR 12 crore)
- MS Dhoni (INR 4 crore)
Purse Remaining for Auction: INR 55 crore (out of INR 120 crore)
RTM Options: 1 (Capped or uncapped player eligible)
Key Takeaways:
- MS Dhoni’s retention at just INR 4 crore is a highlight, thanks to the revival of a rule that considers Indian players without international experience in the last five years as “uncapped.”
- CSK’s strategy remains intact, with a mix of seasoned veterans like Jadeja and Gaikwad alongside young talents like Pathirana.
- Despite retaining a core group, CSK still have ample purse space to bolster their squad.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Players Retained: 3
- Virat Kohli (INR 21 crore)
- Rajat Patidar (INR 11 crore)
- Yash Dayal (INR 5 crore)
Purse Remaining for Auction: INR 83 crore (out of INR 120 crore)
RTM Options: 3 (One uncapped player and two capped players, or three capped players)
Key Takeaways:
- RCB have retained the fewest players (3), leaving them with a whopping INR 83 crore for the auction, one of the largest purses.
- Virat Kohli, the franchise’s biggest star, is retained at a high value. The big question remains whether he will continue as captain.
- The strategy of keeping just a few players gives RCB maximum flexibility to rebuild their squad.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Players Retained: 4
- Axar Patel (INR 16.50 crore)
- Kuldeep Yadav (INR 13.25 crore)
- Tristan Stubbs (INR 10 crore)
- Abishek Porel (INR 4 crore)
Purse Remaining for Auction: INR 73 crore (out of INR 120 crore)
RTM Options: 2 (One uncapped and one capped player, or two capped players)
Key Takeaways:
- The absence of Rishabh Pant, who was a key part of DC’s leadership structure, raises significant questions about DC’s leadership for IPL 2025.
- DC have opted for a balanced approach, retaining key players like Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav but leaving room for new acquisitions.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Players Retained: 6
- Rinku Singh (INR 13 crore)
- Varun Chakravarthy (INR 12 crore)
- Sunil Narine (INR 12 crore)
- Andre Russell (INR 12 crore)
- Harshit Rana (INR 4 crore)
- Ramandeep Singh (INR 4 crore)
Purse Remaining for Auction: INR 51 crore (out of INR 120 crore)
RTM Options: None
Key Takeaways:
- KKR are one of two teams to retain six players, along with Rajasthan Royals. Notably, Rinku Singh has emerged as a key retention, while Andre Russell’s status is confirmed despite rumors.
- KKR’s leadership and squad dynamics will be under the spotlight, as they’ve not retained key figures like Shreyas Iyer.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Players Retained: 6
- Sanju Samson (INR 18 crore)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (INR 18 crore)
- Riyan Parag (INR 14 crore)
- Dhruv Jurel (INR 14 crore)
- Shimron Hetmyer (INR 11 crore)
- Sandeep Sharma (INR 4 crore)
Purse Remaining for Auction: INR 41 crore (out of INR 120 crore)
RTM Options: None
Key Takeaways:
- RR have retained six players, focusing primarily on their batting strength, with notable inclusions like Hetmyer and Jaiswal.
- Jurel’s INR 14 crore retention reflects his growing value, and the franchise has opted to retain a majority of their young talents.
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Players Retained: 5
- Rashid Khan (INR 18 crore)
- Shubman Gill (INR 16.50 crore)
- Sai Sudharsan (INR 8.50 crore)
- Rahul Tewatia (INR 4 crore)
- Shahrukh Khan (INR 4 crore)
Purse Remaining for Auction: INR 69 crore (out of INR 120 crore)
RTM Options: 1 (Capped player eligible)
Key Takeaways:
- GT have focused on retaining key Indian players like Shubman Gill while holding onto their marquee Afghan spinner, Rashid Khan.
- The team has left out key players like Mohammed Shami, making space for potential new fast-bowling acquisitions.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Players Retained: 5
- Nicholas Pooran (INR 21 crore)
- Ravi Bishnoi (INR 11 crore)
- Mayank Yadav (INR 11 crore)
- Mohsin Khan (INR 4 crore)
- Ayush Badoni (INR 4 crore)
Purse Remaining for Auction: INR 69 crore (out of INR 120 crore)
RTM Options: 1 (Capped player eligible)
Key Takeaways:
- LSG have opted to retain Nicholas Pooran at INR 21 crore, one of the highest value retentions of the season.
- The absence of KL Rahul, the team’s former captain, leaves LSG needing a new leader and further reshaping their squad for IPL 2025.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Players Retained: 2
- Shashank Singh (INR 5.5 crore)
- Prabhsimran Singh (INR 4 crore)
Purse Remaining for Auction: INR 110.5 crore (out of INR 120 crore)
RTM Options: 4 (Capped players eligible)
Key Takeaways:
- PBKS have retained the fewest players (just two), but this has left them with the largest available purse for the auction.
- The team faces a complete rebuild with a fresh captain and the necessity to fill out nearly their entire squad.
As the IPL 2025 retained players list, each franchise’s retention strategy provides valuable insight into their long-term plans. Whether opting to retain core players or create room for new acquisitions, teams are setting the stage for another thrilling season of