The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is shaping up to be another exciting chapter in cricket history, with teams making strategic decisions in their player retentions. This comprehensive analysis breaks down the retention choices of all ten franchises, highlighting key players and financial investments made by each team.
Get IPL 2025 Player Retention Players List PDF Here.
Mumbai Indians: Building Around Core Strength
Mumbai Indians have maintained their powerhouse status by retaining their core players. The five-time champions have invested heavily in their proven performers:
- Jasprit Bumrah (₹18.00 Cr) – Leading the bowling attack
- Hardik Pandya (₹16.35 Cr) – Dynamic all-rounder
- Suryakumar Yadav (₹16.35 Cr) – T20 batting specialist
- Rohit Sharma (₹16.30 Cr) – Experienced opener
- Tilak Varma (₹11.00 Cr) – Emerging talent
The retention of Hardik Pandya signals MI’s faith in their returning star, while Bumrah remains their highest-paid player.
Rajasthan Royals: Investing in Youth
Rajasthan Royals have shown clear intent in building for the future while maintaining experienced leadership:
- Sanju Samson (₹18.00 Cr) – Captain and wicketkeeper-batsman
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (₹18.00 Cr) – Opening sensation
- Riyan Parag (₹14.00 Cr) – All-round prospect
- Dhruv Jurel (₹14.00 Cr) – Emerging talent
- Shimron Hetmyer (₹11.00 Cr) – Power-hitting specialist
- Sandeep Sharma (₹4.00 Cr) – Experienced pacer
Lucknow Super Giants: Strategic Retentions
LSG has focused on retaining match-winners and young talents:
| Player | Price (Cr) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Pooran | 21.00 | Wicketkeeper-Batsman |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 11.00 | Spinner |
| Mayank Yadav | 11.00 | Fast Bowler |
| Ayush Badoni | 4.00 | Middle-order Batsman |
| Mohsin Khan | 4.00 | Fast Bowler |
Sunrisers Hyderabad: International Firepower
SRH has invested heavily in international talent:
- Heinrich Klaasen (₹23.00 Cr) – Highest-paid retention
- Pat Cummins (₹18.00 Cr) – Premium fast bowler
- Travis Head (₹11.00 Cr) – Explosive opener
- Abhishek Sharma (₹14.00 Cr) – Indian all-rounder
- Nitish Reddy (₹6.00 Cr) – Young talent
Chennai Super Kings: Loyalty and Experience
The defending champions have maintained their core group:
- Ravindra Jadeja (₹18.00 Cr) – Elite all-rounder
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (₹18.00 Cr) – Opening mainstay
- Matheesha Pathirana (₹13.00 Cr) – Death bowling specialist
- Shivam Dube (₹12.00 Cr) – Power-hitting all-rounder
- MS Dhoni (₹4.00 Cr) – Legendary captain
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Star Power
RCB’s retention list is headlined by their talismanic batter:
- Virat Kohli (₹21.00 Cr) – Premium batsman
- Rajat Patidar (₹11.00 Cr) – Middle-order specialist
- Yash Dayal (₹5.00 Cr) – Fast bowling option
Gujarat Titans: Building on Success
GT has retained their key performers:
- Rashid Khan (₹18.00 Cr) – World-class spinner
- Shubman Gill (₹16.50 Cr) – Opening batsman
- Sai Sudharsan (₹8.50 Cr) – Emerging talent
- Rahul Tewatia (₹4.00 Cr) – Finishing specialist
- Shahrukh Khan (₹4.00 Cr) – Power-hitter
Kolkata Knight Riders: Balance of Experience and Youth
KKR has maintained a mix of established and emerging players:
- Rinku Singh (₹13.00 Cr) – Finishing specialist
- Sunil Narine (₹12.00 Cr) – Mystery spinner
- Andre Russell (₹12.00 Cr) – Power-hitting all-rounder
- Varun Chakaravarthy (₹12.00 Cr) – Mystery spinner
- Harshit Rana (₹4.00 Cr) – Fast bowling prospect
- Ramandeep Singh (₹4.00 Cr) – All-round option
Delhi Capitals: Core Retention
DC has focused on retaining their key Indian players:
- Axar Patel (₹16.50 Cr) – Spin bowling all-rounder
- Kuldeep Yadav (₹13.25 Cr) – Left-arm spinner
- Tristan Stubbs (₹10.00 Cr) – Middle-order batsman
- Abhishek Porel (₹4.00 Cr) – Wicketkeeper-batsman
Punjab Kings: Minimal Retentions
PBKS has opted for a strategic rebuild with minimal retentions:
- Shashank Singh (₹5.50 Cr) – Middle-order batsman
- Prabhsimran Singh (₹4.00 Cr) – Wicketkeeper-batsman
Financial Analysis and Impact
The retention patterns show interesting trends:
- High-Value Retentions:
- Heinrich Klaasen (₹23.00 Cr) – Highest retention
- Nicholas Pooran (₹21.00 Cr)
- Virat Kohli (₹21.00 Cr)
- Investment in Youth:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (₹18.00 Cr)
- Shubman Gill (₹16.50 Cr)
- Tilak Varma (₹11.00 Cr)
- Value Retentions:
- MS Dhoni (₹4.00 Cr)
- Rahul Tewatia (₹4.00 Cr)
- Sandeep Sharma (₹4.00 Cr)
Impact on Mini-Auction
These retentions will significantly impact the upcoming mini-auction:
- Teams like Punjab Kings with minimal retentions will have substantial purse available
- Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have focused on maintaining their core
- Sunrisers Hyderabad has invested heavily in international talent
- Royal Challengers Bangalore has kept spots open for strategic additions
The retention patterns suggest teams are prioritizing:
- Long-term sustainability
- Balance between experience and youth
- Core player stability
- Strategic salary cap management
These choices will shape team compositions and strategies for IPL 2025, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
