The cricket world is a bit chaotic nowadays. It is all about hustles, rumors, and permutations and combinations. With the IPL Mega Auction on the horizon, the teams are very picky and are meticulously strategizing their retention picks for the upcoming 18th season of the tournament.
With the Mega Auction expected to be held in the month of December and february, the franchises are seeking to retain their best mens ahead of the mega pool availability asked by the BCCI. Though there is no official news regarding the player retention option or possible retention rules, with the mega auction expected to happen franchises are trying to get the best deals and best players in their squad.
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With the format expected to mirror the 2022 auction, franchises will have to make tough decisions about which players to retain as the core of their squad. The player retention for the IPL 2025 Mega auction is following the past season’s pattern of the mega auction 2022. And With a limited number of retention picks expected, franchises face the crucial task of identifying the backbone of their teams.
As per the 2022 mega auction rules, franchises only have the liberty to retain 3 to four players and the remaining squad will be sent to the auction pool for the bidding procedure to happen. And these 3-4 player retention is not that easy which it seems, for those favorites to be in the team the franchise would need a hefty sum to be on their team, which will ultimately affect the overall team squad affecting the weight of the purse.
As rumors fly, we look at the possible retention lists for each team, highlighting the key players they are likely to keep. Remember, this is just an early guess, and the actual retention strategy might change. So let’s look at who will be the cornerstone players that the teams simply cannot afford to lose? And see the retention as well as release list of players.
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IPL Retention Players 2025 List: Teamwise
The BCCI conducts an auction ahead of the new season every year and unlike the past season is going to be different. This year’s 18th edition will see a Mega auction happening by the end of this year or beginning of the next year. Here is the list of the players that are expected to be retained for the IPL 2025 Season that each team would be securing from the current squads.
| Team | Retained Players |
|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Shreyas Iyer, Varun Chakaravarthy |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jake Fraser-McGurk |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Sam Curran, Arshdeep Singh, Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhishek Sharma, T Natarajan, Travis Head |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Mayank Yadav |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Mohammed Shami, Rashid Khan |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma |
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However with ongoing news circulation and rumors there are news of Rishabh pant leaving DC for CSK, KL Rahul is also expected to be traded to RCB and the former Skipper Rohit Sharma is also rumored to leave the Mumbai blues and is likely to join Gujarat Titans or Delhi Capitals. However these are mere rumors and there is no official source claiming these reports. So these players are still likely to be retained by their team franchises.
IPL 2025 Retained Players List: RCB
The mega auction details are making headlines and one is the player retention everyone is talking about. Talking on the same here is the list of the players that are likely to be retained by the (RCB) Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the mega auction so that they could still have the key players in the upcoming new squad.
The RCB squad is likely to retain Virat Kohli, Mohhammad Siraj, Rajat Patidar and Will Jacks. These are high probable players with great performances for the team and maximum possibility of being retained by the team for IPL 2025.
IPL 2025 Retained Players List: KKR
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the IPL 2024 title by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. After finishing seventh in 2023 and 2022 and losing the final to Chennai Super Kings in 2021, KKR made a strong comeback in IPL 2024 with a balanced and strategic team.
Now, as IPL 2025 approaches, KKR faces the challenge of retaining players before the Mega Auction, where they can only keep 4 players. This makes it hard to maintain the same team balance.
KKR will likely retain Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Varun Chakravarthy. They might also consider retaining either Venkatesh Iyer or Rinku Singh, but it’s tough to keep both due to the retention limit.
In summary, KKR is expected to retain Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Varun Chakravarthy for IPL 2025.
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IPL 2025 Retained Players List: DC
Delhi Capitals (DC) face a crucial decision ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. Retaining core players is essential for maintaining team stability, and the franchise is focused on building this year’s auction around this principle. Despite having good players, the team has struggled to reach the playoffs and often finishes at the bottom of the points table. While the franchise has shown promise in recent seasons, building a consistent team remains a challenge. Retaining the right core players will be crucial for their future success. For the next auction, Delhi will be looking at the following players to retain.
1. Rishabh Pant
2. Kuldeep Yadav
3. Axar Patel
4. Jake Fraser-McGurk
Rishabh Pant is a strong contender for retention due to his batting and leadership, despite rumors of a move to CSK. Kuldeep Yadav’s consistent spin bowling and Axar Patel’s all-round abilities make them likely to be retained. Emerging talent Jake Fraser-McGurk’s explosive batting also makes him a priority, though other franchises may compete for him.
You Can Check Also:- DC IPL 2025 Retained Players List
IPL 2025 Retained Players List: PBKS
There isn’t much for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) to look for in the mega auction. And it won’t be a surprise if they do not retain anyone from the squad releasing all of its players to the auction pool. Finishing ninth on the points table last year with a squad of experienced and novice players Punjab still failed to make it to the playoffs even. And the major mishap was its players’ mixed form. Looking at last year’s circumstances and recent rumors of a new head coach of the team, the Punjab Franchise could look for retaining players like:
- Sam Curran
- Arshdeep Singh
- Shashank Singh
- Ashutosh Sharma
This core group brings a balance of experience, youth, and versatility to the team. Curran’s all-round abilities, Arshdeep’s lethal yorkers, Shashank’s explosive batting, and Ashutosh’s spin bowling form a formidable combination. By retaining these players, Punjab Kings aim to build a strong foundation for future success.
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IPL 2025 Retained Players List: RR
Rajasthan Royals (RR) will be the most affected squad or Franchise for the IPL Mega Auction 2025. As they have very good players with great recent match performances in the domestic and international tours. For the upcoming IPL 2025 the retention of players for the Rajasthan Royals would be difficult as it has a performance worthy squad but as per the Retention policy of the IPL, only 3-4 players can be retained. Considering it the player retention for the Royals would be like it:
- Sanju Samson
- Jos Buttler
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Riyan Parag
Sanju Samson will continue as the team captain. He’s a strong hitter and a good leader. Jos Buttler is a world-class batter who can score runs quickly. Yashasvi Jaiswal is a young player with a lot of talent, and he’s already proven himself in the league. Riyan Parag is a useful player who can both bat and bowl. Keeping these key players in the team the Royals will try to bring a strong team for the upcoming 18th edition of IPL.
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IPL 2025 Retained Players List: SRH
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) even after the explosive and record breaking performances in the IPL 2024, could not win the title back home. This year would make a whole new entry of players to the squad after the IPL Mega auction that would make a big difference in the current squad. After the disappointing 2024 season, Retaining key players will be crucial to this process to rebuild and strengthen its squad through the upcoming mega auction. The following would be the key Players that SRH would be keeping safe from going into the auction pool.
1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
2. Abhishek Sharma
3. T Natarajan
4. Travis Head
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, a seasoned player, is likely to be a top priority for retention due to his experience and exceptional bowling skills. Abhishek Sharma, with his versatility as both a batter and bowler, is a strong contender. T Natarajan’s ability to deliver yorkers at a high pace makes him a valuable asset, increasing his chances of being retained. Travis Head, a record breaking machine at both the domestic and international matches, would be the most important player that Hyderabad Franchise would be keen to keep in its squad.
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IPL 2025 Retained Players List: CSK
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had a heartbreaking year in IPL 2024, losing a virtual knockout match to RCB that ended their 2024 campaign. Adding more sorrow, that match was most probably the last match of MS Dhoni. Although MS haven’t confirmed his retirement yet, it can only be determined by CSK’s retained player list for IPL 2025. The team composition of CSK is in its evolving period with the new captain and Mega auction can help this evolution with the addition of fresh faces in the team.
1. Ruturaj Gaikwad
2. Shivam Dube
3. Ravindra Jadeja
4. Dhoni
Before signing players in the Auction CSK will have to think wisely about the list of players to be retained. CSK’s most probable player retention list could feature Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(Subject to his retirement). However, if MS Dhoni decides to bid adieu to the IPL, CSK will hold on to Srilankan pacer, Matheesha Pathirana for the retention.
Read Also:- RR IPL 2025 Retained & Released Players List
IPL 2025 Retained Players List: LSG
Lucknow SuperGiants (LSG) debuted in the IPL in 2022, and IPL 2024 was their third season. Finishing on the 7th Lucknow failed to make it to the qualifiers for the 17th season. Even after their back to back playoff qualifications since their debut. Looking at the team’s performance last year, the team franchise would be seeing the mega auction for the first time after their debut.The IPL 2025 auction will be a mega event, similar to LSG’s first-ever auction experience in 2022, when they acquired Rahul, Ravi Bishnoi, and Marcus Stoinis through the player draft.
Looking ahead to the auction, LSG would have their keen interest in the mentioned players for the retention.
1. KL Rahul
2. Nicholas Pooran
3. Marcus Stoinis
4. Mayank Yadav
Beside being the top performers, KL Rahul has led the team as a captain for past three seasons, but with current rumors he is likely to move out of the LSG and likely to join RCB. Nicholas Pooran’s explosive batting and Marcus Stoinis’ all-round skills make them strong candidates for retention. Mayank Yadav’s emergence as a reliable Indian pacer also adds valuable depth to the team’s bowling attack.
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IPL 2025 Retained Players List: GT
The Gujarat Titans (GT) have shown incredible performance under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya. Debuting in the year 2022, first inaugural season GT saw a title win followed by the Runner up in the second season. But last year’s season saw some unbearable changes that finished GT out of the playoffs even. The skipper was traded to Mumbai indian last year and the major players of the team were going through injuries. This overall concluded GT out from the race of IPL 2024 Final. To overlook past mistakes, the franchise would be looking for these players to include in their GT squad and retain Players before Mega Auction 2025.
1. Shubman Gill
2. Sai Sudharsan
3. Mohammed Shami
4. Rashid Khan
Gill’s rise as a key batsman, along with Sudharsan’s strong performances, creates a powerful top order. Shami’s fast bowling and swing work perfectly with Rashid Khan’s expert spin, making them a strong bowling pair. This retention promises Gujarat Titans’ dedication to consistency and winning championships.
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IPL 2025 Retained Players List: MI
Mumbai Indians (MI) brought back Hardik Pandya to lead Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2024 but that move unfortunately couldn’t bring the sixth trophy home. Mumbai Indians finished last on the points table but the squad which MI had in IPL 2024 was one of the strongest out of all teams. With the mega auction on the line, Mumbai’s headache is over the roof to choose players to retain for the IPL 2025. Mumbai has a vast squad to choose from and Mumbai would love to retain most of their players but it’s not in the scheme of things of IPL policies. So here is the possible player choices for the Mumbai Indians
1. Hardik Pandya
2. Jasprit Bumrah
3. Suryakumar Yadav
4. Rohit Sharma
It will be the first Mega Auction for Hardik Pandya as a captain and he has a chance to build a squad that he can manage and win matches with. Mumbai Indians are expected to be very grounded while retaining players and thinking orthodox will be the best option for Mumbai Indians. The best players that Mumbai can retain being orthodox but strategically right are Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rohit Sharma.
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This was all about the retention players that each team would be looking to retain before the IPL Mega Auction 2025. Stay with us for more future updates on mega auction and list of players retained and released.
