The Indian Premier League (IPL) has introduced new player retention rules ahead of the 2025 mega-auction, scheduled later this year. These regulations allow each franchise to retain a maximum of six players using Retentions and the Right to Match (RTM) options. Notably, there’s no limit on the number of overseas players a team can retain, and each team can hold onto a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players.
As the five-time IPL champions, Mumbai Indians (MI) face a significant decision regarding their player retention strategy. After a challenging IPL 2024 season that saw them finish at the bottom of the points table with just four wins from 14 matches, MI will be eager to rebuild their squad.
Given the new retention rules, MI is likely to prioritize retaining their star-studded Indian core. This includes captain Hardik Pandya, veteran batsman Rohit Sharma, the current India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, and one of the world’s best fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah.
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who was the most expensive player at the last mega-auction in 2022, is also a strong contender for retention. MI might also consider retaining the promising up-and-coming pacer Anshul Kamboj, as an uncapped player.
The 2025 mega-auction promises to be a fascinating event, and MI’s decisions regarding player retention will be crucial in shaping their squad for the upcoming season.
