As the buildup to the 2025 IPL season continues, fans got a glimpse of the squads as the ten franchises released their retention lists on JioCinema’s IPL Retention Special. With the grand auction set to take place before year-end, this year’s retentions featured a mix of high-profile players staying loyal to their franchises and surprising releases that have generated excitement. From big earners staying with their squads to key players looking for new homes, here’s a breakdown of the retention lists and the auction landscape.
Top Earners and Big Retentions
In the retention announcements, Heinrich Klaasen emerged as the top earner, with Sunrisers Hyderabad investing a whopping INR 23 crore to keep him. Behind Klaasen, cricket legends Virat Kohli and Nicholas Pooran were also among the highest-paid retained players, each securing INR 21 crore from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), respectively. These heavy investments underscore each franchise’s commitment to building around these star players as they head into the 2025 season.
Mumbai Indians opted to retain five players, including star bowler Jasprit Bumrah (INR 18 crore), Suryakumar Yadav (INR 16.35 crore), and captain Rohit Sharma (INR 16.3 crore). They also held onto Tilak Varma for INR 8 crore, highlighting their strategy of retaining a solid core while maintaining a flexible auction budget. On the other hand, RCB made strategic moves by retaining only three players, keeping an impressive INR 83 crore available for the auction.
Surprise Releases and High-Profile Free Agents
Among the shocking moves this year was Delhi Capitals’ decision to release Rishabh Pant, who has been a prominent figure for the team. This decision, along with KL Rahul’s and Shreyas Iyer’s releases, adds an extra layer of excitement to the auction, with all three players expected to attract massive bids. Additionally, Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh and international stars Jos Buttler and Glenn Maxwell are among the top-tier talents that will go under the hammer, offering franchises a chance to sign game-changers for their squads.
Auction Budgets and Strategies: Who Has the Edge?
With their minimal retentions, Punjab Kings head into the auction with a record-breaking INR 110.5 crore, providing Ricky Ponting and his team an opportunity to dominate the bidding. RCB’s INR 83 crore budget places them in a strong position as well, giving them flexibility to build around Kohli and fill critical positions. Delhi Capitals, with INR 73 crore, will also look to make significant additions under their new leadership.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have each retained six players, leaving less room for major acquisitions. RR, particularly, has only INR 41 crore remaining and will have to be strategic to make impactful additions. In contrast, Sunrisers Hyderabad, with Pat Cummins (INR 18 crore), Travis Head (INR 14 crore), and Klaasen as their marquee players, has retained INR 45 crore to strengthen their squad.
Franchise-Wise Key Retentions
Mumbai Indians retained an experienced core featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Rohit Sharma. RCB retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal, prioritizing a strong base and ensuring flexibility with a substantial auction purse. Delhi Capitals retained Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Abhishek Porel, demonstrating faith in emerging talents and versatile players.
KKR’s six retained players include Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell, bringing both explosive batting and bowling strength to their core. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s big-ticket retentions like Pat Cummins and Heinrich Klaasen suggest a balanced approach, while Gujarat Titans retained their bowling ace Rashid Khan and opener Shubman Gill, ensuring a strong foundation for 2025.
The Road Ahead
With just a few months left until the auction, the IPL 2025 season promises new dynamics and rivalries as franchises finalize their squads. Fans can expect intense bidding wars for released marquee players like Pant, Rahul, and Buttler. With the auction likely to be a game-changer for many franchises, the stage is set for a thrilling season ahead.
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