Players Mumbai Indians Should Retain for IPL 2025 : Mumbai Indians (MI) are the most successful side in Indian Premier League (IPL) history alongside CSK with five titles to their name. But MI has failed to win a title since 2020, qualifying for the playoffs just once in this period (2023).
Players Mumbai Indians Should Retain for IPL 2025
A lot happened in the MI set-up in the last edition of the IPL. All-rounder Hardik Pandya, after a successful two years as captain of Gujarat Titans, came back to MI as captain.
Hardik replaced Rohit Sharma, who had won five titles for the Mumbai franchise in the past. Things didn’t look good in the MI camp last year. Rohit Sharma looked visibly frustrated and unhappy, and MI finished at the bottom of the points table. Rumours were that Rohit may not continue playing for MI from IPL 2025.
After all this, now’s time for IPL 2025. Teams need to submit their retentions for the next season by 31st October and there are many match-winners in the MI squad and it’ll be interesting to see who they retain ahead of the mega auction. Players Mumbai Indians Should Retain for IPL 2025
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IPL 2025 Retention Rules
Teams can retain up to six players through direct retentions or using the Right to Match (RTM). There is no limit for the retentions of overseas players but teams can retain a maximum of two uncapped players. Any Indian player who last played in international cricket 5+ years ago and has no central contract from the BCCI can be retained as an “uncapped player”.
RTMs will depend on the number of retentions (6 – No. of Players Retained). The salary caps for the retained players are:
- 1st Retention: 18 Crores
- 2nd Retention: 14 Crores
- 3rd Retention: 11 Crores
- 4th Retention: 18 Crores
- 5th Retention: 14 Crores
- Uncapped Player: 4 Crores
Despite this, teams are allowed to divide up to INR 75 crores in any way they wish to retain 5 players. So teams will have to be cautious while retaining the 4th & 5th players as releasing them now and buying them back using the RTM may be a better deal as there aren’t many players who will fetch more than the amount they’ll be retained for. Players Mumbai Indians Should Retain for IPL 2025
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Who MI May Retain in IPL 2025: Big Names Staying or Not?
After Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav was appointed as India’s skipper in the shortest format. Then we had some rumours that Surya may also leave the Mumbai Indians as other franchises are offering captaincy.
We don’t know for sure if these rumours are true and whether or not the likes of Rohit and Surya will continue playing for MI. Ideally, no franchise will leave such match winners. We’ll list down MI’s possible retentions keeping all the rumours aside.
#1. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is currently the best pacer in world cricket. He is a proper match-winner in all three formats of the game and there is absolutely no doubts that the Mumbai Indians will retain the Indian speedster for IPL 2025 and beyond.
Bumrah is an integral part of the MI setup and a consistent performer. His IPL economy has always been under 8 since 2016 which is a phenomenal feat for any bowler. He has picked up 20 or more wickets in three of the last four seasons, and is a go-option in pressure situations. Players Mumbai Indians Should Retain for IPL 2025
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#2. Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav is arguably the best T20 batter in the world. He plays some unusual shots all around the ground and is capable of winning games on his own. Surya is another player MI wouldn’t let go of. He started his IPL career at MI back in 2011 but then moved to KKR in 2014 before coming back to Mumbai in 2018.
Surya has scored 950 runs in the last two editions of the IPL at an average of 39.60 and a whopping strike rate of 175.90 including eight fifties and two centuries.
#3. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma was the face of the franchise over the years. He won five titles for MI under his captaincy since 2013. He’s one of the all-time leading run-scorers in the IPL. However, his numbers in the tournament weren’t as good as his talent warrants; his strike rate never went over 135 and the average was under 30 from IPL 2017 to 2023. Players Mumbai Indians Should Retain for IPL 2025
Last year, Rohit scored 417 runs in 14 innings at an average of 32.10 at a strike rate of 150 including one fifty and a century. It is unlikely that Rohit will lead MI at least for the next season but MI will also want him to stay. It is up to the franchise to settle things with him, and he can be the third retention.
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#4. Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya had an average season with the bat and a forgettable first season as the captain of the Mumbai Indians. But despite everything, he’s expected to lead the franchise at least in IPL 2025. Hardik is a match-winner with both bat and ball and no team would want to let go of an all-rounder of such calibre. Players Mumbai Indians Should Retain for IPL 2025
Recently we’ve seen Hardik return to his destructive best with the bat and he has been performing well with the ball. He played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph against South Africa this year. Hardik will be retained by MI for IPL 2025 and beyond.
Now these four retentions should be a no-brainer for MI if players like Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma decide to stay. With the fifth retention, MI have options in Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma. Uncapped players like Nehal Wadhera, Akash Madhwal, Naman Dhir and Anshul Kamboj are also there. They may retain one of the uncapped players but it looks unlikely as of now. Players Mumbai Indians Should Retain for IPL 2025
I feel MI should retain only four players: Bumrah, Surya, Rohit and Hardik and go into the auction with 2 RTMs one of which can be used only for uncapped players. The likes of Ishan Kishan or Tilak Varma are tempting options and MI may even go for them but I feel they can get them for cheaper or at the retention price in the auction.
There were many loopholes in the MI squad in the past few years; consistency with the opening duo, quality in batting depth and pace department except Bumrah being the biggest issue for them. It’s a great opportunity for them to build a strong squad around their retained players. MI management will look to do just that and lift their sixth title in IPL 2025. Players Mumbai Indians Should Retain for IPL 2025
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