Predicting 5 most expensive Indian player retentions for IPL 2025 ft. Jasprit Bumrah
The deadline of October 31, 2024, on which IPL teams have to submit the players they wish to retain ahead of the mega auctions, is almost upon us. There is hardly a day's time for the franchises to finalise the list of players they wish to retain.
The IPL has made several changes to the rules of retentions this season. First and foremost, the purse of the teams has been increased to INR 120 crores. Similarly, they will be deducted INR 18, 14, 11, 18 and 14 crores for each retention they make.
They can make five retentions of capped players at the most and two retentions of uncapped players. This gives franchises the option to look around and decide whom they want to keep and whom they want to let go.
To add to the fun and frolic, in this listicle, we predict the five most expensive Indian player retentions for IPL 2025. Of course, all of this is purely a hypothetical exercise keeping in tune with the festivities.
#1 Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians) - 20 crores
Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah appears to be among those players whom his franchise Mumbai Indians will be keen on retaining. Bumrah is one of the best bowlers in the world at the moment, and MI will not want to let him go. His ability with the new ball and then with the old makes him a big threat.
The Gujarat speedster was at his fiery best for MI in the IPL last season as well, picking up 20 wickets in thirteen outings. MI did not have the best of times in their previous campaign and will hope that with the retention of Bumrah, their fortunes might change this time around. He will most probably be retained for 20 crores.
#2 Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) - 18 crores
Former India captain Virat Kohli, who used to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the past, is almost certainly going to be retained by them ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. However, Kohli has retired from T20s in international cricket.
Despite his retirement from this format in international cricket, Kohli appears to be in fine fettle and proved his worth to the franchise in their previous campaign as well. Like Bumrah mentioned above, Kohli has been a one-franchise man.
In the 2024 edition of the cash-rich tournament, Kohli amassed 741 runs, and has by now accumulated 8004 runs in his entire IPL career. The 35-year-old is also the all-time leading run-scorer of the tournament.
#3 Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals) - 18 crores
India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who made a stunning comeback from the near-fatal accident he suffered in December 2022, is most probably going to be the first player Delhi Capitals will retain for 18 crores.
Pant is a livewire on the field and has showcased that he has lost none of his charm post his return to the national team after his accident. His aggressive batting has often marked him apart from his competitors.
The 27-year-old led DC in the IPL last season, and the same will be expected in 2025 as well. The franchise will not hesitate in freeing their purse up a bit to retain a talent like Pant, who has only played for them in his IPL career.
#4 Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders) - 18 crores
Kolkata Knight Riders won IPL 2024 under the captaincy of their star batter Shreyas Iyer. Quite naturally, he will be retained by them. However, given his dipping fortunes in international cricket, KKR will not want to spend too much on him and instead use the 18 crores that their first retention will get deducted for.
Iyer has been dropped from India's white-ball sides due to his indifferent form, and is trying his best to regain it by playing for Mumbai in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. (He scored a fine 142 against Maharashtra recently). KKR, however, will not give up all hopes on him and instead seek to make him the first retention they make ahead of the mega auction this year.
#5 Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians) - 15 crores
Since we have predicted that Mumbai Indians will already retain Bumrah for a whopping 20 crores, they will have to make amends with that of former captain Rohit Sharma. Although Sharma continues to lead India in Tests and ODIs, he retired from T20Is at the end of the T20 World Cup in June earlier this year.
Sharma is one of the finest openers this country has seen, and MI will desperately want to retain him to add a strong flavour of consistency in the upcoming edition of the IPL. Although he did not have the best of times with the bat last season - he amassed 417 runs at an average of 32 - MI will keep their faith on him for 15 crores.